Norway: European Commission begins three-day hearing investigating salmon price-fixing cartel allegations

The European Commission has commenced a three-day hearing investigating price-fixing cartel allegations against six leading Norwegian salmon-farming companies.The E.C. announced in January 2024 it was advancing an investigation into price fixing in the spot market. It alleges Mowi, Cermaq, Grieg, Bremnes, Lerøy, and SalMar breached E.U. antitrust rules by colluding to distort competition in the market for spot sales of Norwegian-farmed Atlantic salmon in the E.U. between 2011 and 2019, including exchanging commercially sensitive information. The E.C. commenced a three-day hearing on the issue, led by senior E.C. antitrust officials, on Monday, 16 September, that will run through 18 September, according to Reuters. European antitrust officials and watchdog groups may also ben invited into the closed-door hearing, Reuters reported, citing the named companies and three people with direct knowledge of the matter.SalMar and Grieg confirmed company representatives will be attending the ...