Memo: Antitrust: Commission has carried out inspections in the marine hose sector

The European Commission can confirm that on 2 and 3 May 2007 Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several marine hose producers in France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The function of marine hoses is to transport crude oil and petroleum products, for example for loading and unloading tanker ships. The Commission has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated Article 81 of the EC Treaty, which prohibits practices such as price fixing. The Commission coordinated its investigative measures with the US Department of Justice in the context of a suspected worldwide cartel concerning marine hoses.