Fashion Sector Raided by European Commission over Anti-Competitive Concerns

The European Commission (‘EC’), on suspicion of cartel and other restrictive business practices, has started conducting unannounced inspections at the premises of various companies in the fashion industry. The EC statement also emphasised that, “Unannounced inspections are a preliminary investigative step into suspected anticompetitive practices. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections and sends out formal requests for information does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.”