Belgium – Belgian Competition Authority Fines Cement Producers € 14.7 Million For Anticompetitive Behaviour In Standardisation Process

On 30 August 2013, the Belgian Competition Council imposed fines amounting to a total of around €14.7 million on three cement producers (Cimenteries CBR S.A., Compagnie des Ciments Belges S.A. and Holcim Belgium S.A.), industry association Febelcem and the research institute for the cement industry CRIC/OCCN.

In its decision, the Competition Council held that between May 2000 and October 2003 the parties colluded to restrict access for new entrants to the Belgian cement market. In particular, the Competition Council noted that the Belgian cement producers are directly or indirectly involved in setting standards and awarding standard compliance markings or technical approval for cement products via Febelcem or CRIC/OCCN. The Competition Council subsequently found that there is evidence that the cement producers had delayed awarding standard compliance markings or technical approval for ground slag in ready-mix concrete, as requested by competing cement manufacturer