Plastics companies fined over cartel

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The European Commission has fined several leading plastics companies over €173m for violating the EC Treaty’s ban on cartels and restrictive business practices.

The European Commission has fined several leading plastics companies over €173m (£156m) for violating the EC Treaty’s ban on cartels and restrictive business practices.

Akzo, Baerlocher, Ciba, Elementis, Elf Aquitaine (Arkema France), GEA, Chemson, Faci, Reagens and AC Treuhand - as well as Chemtura Corporation - fixed prices, shared customers, allocated markets and exchanged sensitive commercial information for tin stabilisers and ESBO/esters heat stabilisers between 1987 and 2000.

Chemtura Corporation participated in the cartel but was not fined because it revealed the existence of the cartels to the Commission. Fines on Arkema France, Baerlocher and Ciba were reduced for cooperating with the Commission investigation, but Arkema France's fine was increased by 90 per cent as it had previously taken part in similar cartels.

Tin stabilisers are used to avoid decomposition caused by heat during the processing of PVC into final products. They are mainly used in rigid and plasticised PVC. ESBO/esters are used as plasticisers and heat stabilisers for plasticised PVC products.

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