ACM is tracking agricultural purchasing cartel

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) suspects that various traders have made prohibited purchase price agreements. The watchdog has raided several companies and has launched an investigation.

ACM suspects that the traders have mutually agreed on the purchase price, which may have caused farmers to be squeezed. Spokesperson Murco Mijnlieff does not want to say which sector(s) it concerns. According to the spokesperson, this would point directly in a certain direction. It is clear that these are large traders. Mijnlieff leaves the definition of 'large' in the middle, but so-called single-pitters are excluded.

ACM is now trying to find out whether the Competition Act has actually been infringed, after which (possible) sanctions will be announced. According to Mijnlieff, such investigations usually take a lot of time.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.