The Swiss Competition Authority opens an investigation into anti-competitive practices in the gravel and landfill sectors

By a decision made on 12 January 2015 the the Swiss Competition Authority (Comco) has opened an investigation against several firms operating in the gravel and landfill sectors in the Canton of Bern. In particular, the Comco focused on two types of anti-competitive conducts. First, the Comco took the view that the parties agreed to fix prices and limit output. Second, the parties enjoyed a dominant position in these markets, which they abused in several ways. On the basis of the pieces of evidence collected, the allegedly abusive practices included refusal to supply third parties, discrimination against customers and making the conclusion of contracts conditional upon the customer's accepting not requested services. It is not clear from the press release of the Comco whether the second type of anti-competitive conducts amounted to a collective abuse of dominance as it seems to be the case. 

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