Major pulp companies in Europe no longer under EU antitrust scrutiny. The investigation into the wood pulp sector was closed on lack of sufficient evidence, the European Commission explained.
The European Commission (EC) has decided to terminated its antitrust investigation into potential anticompetitive practices in the wood pulp sector in Europe. According to the EC, all the evidence gathered was thoroughly analysed and carefully assessed after which it was concluded that there was "insufficient ground to further pursue the investigation."
On 12 October 2021, the Commission officials together with its national counterparts had carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several pulp companies in different EU countries. The inspections had been carried out at least five pulp producers, including Stora Enso, Metsä Fibre, UPM in Finnland, Södra in Sweden, and Mercer Group in Germany. The Commission had concerns that the companies involved may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices.
The closure of the investigation is not a finding that the conduct in question complies with EU competition rules, the Commission said.
