Thursday November 13, 05:54 PM
EU competition regulators raid French pharmaceutical sites
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BRUSSELS (AFP) - EU investigators have raided biomedical analysis sites in France on Wednesday and Thursday amid suspicions of anti-competitive practices, the European Commission announced.
The "unannounced inspections" notably targetted the Paris offices of France's National Order of Pharmacists, which controls entry to the profession.
The commission, the EU's executive arm, "has reason to believe that the provisions of the EC Treaty prohibiting cartels, restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant position have been infringed," it said in a statement.
The commission, adopting its normal practice, named no names, stressing that its investigations were at a preliminary stage and that the inspections do "not mean that the enterprises concerned are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour."
However more of the story was revealed in Paris.
"We received a visit from a number of representatives of the commission," Jean Parrot, president of the national pharmacists headquarters, told reporters in the French capital.
He added that the other site subjected to a search was a medical analysis laboratory linked to the group.
According to the commission "we have hampered or refused entry to the profession of a number of pharmaceutical biologists or groups," said Parrot (Paris: FR0004038263 - news) .
He added that the commission's suspicions dated back to "at least 2003".
The enquiry was launched after a complaint from one company over a membership refusal.
Parrot defended his group's methods, saying they were in line with France's health regulations.
It is currently illegal in France for those who are not health professionals to hold more than 25 percent of the capital of an analysis laboratory.
The French government is preparing to change the rule which Brussels says runs counter to the "freedom of establishment", a rule governing individuals' right to set up as professionals in member states.
There is no time limit for the commission to complete its probe of suspected anti-competitive practices.
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