Chicory: a fine of 3.6 million is canceled

The Paris Court of Appeal quashed the conviction of chicory producers for price cartel.

The Court considered that "the practices complained against them can not receive the qualification of complex and continuing agreement, failing to meet the criteria imposed by Community law."

The rules of the competition were therefore not violated by these organizations (11 organizations and 7 producers associations and unions) that have not exceeded their mission of price regulator.

These organizations had been convicted in March 2012 by the Competition Authority of € 3.6 million fines for cartel for more than 10 years on a minimum sale price.

"This is a great victory, but with a bitter taste because the consequences are numerous. We had to pay almost € 700,000 to lawyer and the campaign was bad. Now we must have the courage to bounce back, "commented Daniel Bouquillon, former president of chicory growers union and in charge of the case.

source : courrier picard, les echos