Memo: Statement on investigations in the bathroom fittings sector

Following press inquiries, the European Commission's spokesperson for Competition confirmed that, on 9 and 10 November 2004, Commission inspectors, assisted by officials from the national competition authorities of the Member States concerned, launched simultaneous unannounced inspections at the premises of some of the major European manufacturers and importers of bathroom fittings in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Netherlands. The purpose of these inspections was to find evidence of an alleged cartel arrangement between manufactures and importers of bathroom fittings, most of whom operate on a European level.