Spain: CNMC fines tobacco companies for 57.7 million

The Spanish competition authority, the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has imposed fines totaling 57.7 million euros against the four leading tobacco companies in the country, accused of sharing confidential information and adversely affecting competition in the period between 2008 and 2017.

The brands sanctioned by the CNMC include Philip Morris, Altadis, JT International Iberia, and the distributor Logista, who together represent 95% of the Spanish tobacco market. The four companies are said to have shared data on the sale of cigarettes and consumer profiles, using that information to keep their market share stable.

The four companies have announced that they will appeal the decision and expressed their disagreement with the regulator’s conclusion. Altadis has announced that it will file an appeal with the National High Court, while Philip Morris will do the same considering that the CNMC “has not proven or demonstrated” that the shared information “has produced the alleged restrictive effects…”

Full Content: Crónica Global, Europa Press

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