Stora Enso, UPM and Metsä Fibre are included in the inspections.
Today the European Commission announced that it was conducting "unannounced inspections in locations in several Member States at the premises of companies active in the wood pulp sector."
The Commission said that it had concerns "that the inspected companies may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices according to Arcticle 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union." The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.
In a press statement, Stora Enso said that it was included in the inspection through a visit conducted by the Finnish Competition and Consumer authority at its headquarters in Kanavaranta, Finland. Stora Enso says it is cooperating fully with the authorities.
In a similar press statement, UPM also confirmed that the Commission was carrying out inspections at its premises. The company said that at this stage, it did not have information on the outcome of the inspection. UPM explained it supported the Commission in its investigation but could not comment any further on the ongoing investigation.
Metsä Fibre also said that the European Commission has today started an inspection at its company under EU antitrust rules as part of larger investigation of the market for wood pulp sector. The company said that according to current information Metsä Board was not subject to investigations. Metsä Fibre explained that it would cooperate in full with the European Commission authorities.
Another company that has been inspected is Mercer International. The company explained in a press release that "the European Union has opened a cartel investigation into the wood pulp sector and conducted inspections of major European pulp producers including the company's German operations." Mercer International said that it was cooperating with the investigation.
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