Hydrocortisone tablets: alleged anti-competitive agreements and abusive conduct (50277-2)
The CMA is investigating alleged anti-competitive agreements and abusive conduct with respect to hydrocortisone tablets under Chapters I and II CA98 and Articles 101 and 102 TFEU.
Case reference: 50277-2
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| February 2020 | Supplementary statement of objections issued |
| May 2017 to October 2019 (estimate) | Further evidence gathering and analysis, decision on whether to proceed with the case |
| April to May 2017 | Receipt of written and oral representations on the statement of objections |
| March 2017 | Statement of objections issued |
| September 2016 to February 2017 | Further information gathering and analysis of information requests |
| September 2016 | Decision to continue with the investigation |
| August 2016 to September 2016 | Investigation and analysis including further information requests and stakeholder meetings |
| April 2016 to July 2016 | Initial investigation: information gathering, including issuance of formal or informal information requests and parties’ responses. CMA analysis and review of parties’ responses to information requests. Potential state of play meetings with parties under investigation |
| April 2016 | Investigation opened |
Supplementary statement of objections
12 February 2020: The CMA issued a supplementary statement of objections in relation to its hydrocortisone investigations. The CMA has been conducting three separate investigations into alleged excessive and unfair pricing, anti-competitive agreements and abusive conduct in relation to the supply of hydrocortisone tablets in the UK. Due to the interrelationship of the facts and allegations in the three hydrocortisone investigations, the CMA brought them together and revised certain aspects of its provisional findings in the respective statements of objections through this supplementary update, including taking account of further evidence which has been obtained since the original statements of objections were issued. Please see the Hydrocortisone case page for more information.
Statement of objections
3 March 2017: The CMA issued a statement of objections alleging that Concordia and Actavis UK have breached UK and EU competition law by entering into anti-competitive agreements in relation to the supply of hydrocortisone tablets in the UK. In doing so, the CMA also alleges that Actavis UK abused its dominant position by inducing Concordia not to enter the market independently in the UK market.
- Press release: CMA alleges anti-competitive agreements for hydrocortisone tablets (2.3.17)
Notes
- The investigation is under Chapter I and Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 (CA98) and Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
- No conclusion should be drawn that there has been an infringement of competition law at this stage and the recipients of the statement of objections will now have the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
- The CMA will consider any representations it receives before any decision is taken as to whether competition law has in fact been infringed.
- Changes to the timing of original entries in the case timetable will be made where the estimated timing changes.
Contacts
Assistant Directors
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Suzanne McQueen (020 3738 6358, suzanne.mcqueen@cma.gov.uk)
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Neil Maxey-Branch (020 3738 6956, neil.maxey@cma.gov.uk)
Director, Andrew Groves (020 3738 6927, andrew.groves@cma.gov.uk)
Senior Responsible Officer, Michael Grenfell (020 3738 6134, michael.grenfell@cma.gov.uk)
Updates to this page
Last updated 10 July 2019 + show all updates
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The timetable for this case has been updated.
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Case timetable updated.
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Statement of objections issued
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Timetable updated.
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Timetable updated.
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First published.