Press Release: Commission fines ADM, Ajinomoto, others in lysine cartel

On 7.6.00 the Commission fined Archer Daniels Midland, Ajinomoto and three other companies a total of almost 110 million Euro for operating a global price-fixing cartel for lysine. The decision highlights the Commission's determination to fight cartels, the most damaging of all anti-competitive practices.

Lysine is the most important amino acid used in animal foodstuffs for nutritional purposes. Amino acids are building blocks of protein. They can be of vegetal or animal origin (e.g. soybeanmeal or fishmeal). They can also be manufactured. The five cartel participants manufacture and sell synthetic amino acids. The availability of synthetic amino acids enables nutritionists to compose protein diets that better meet the animal's feed requirements.