European Commission carries out unannounced inspections in the wood pulp sector  

Photo: Corentin Béchade/WIkimedia Commons

European Commission has started an inspection on Metsä Fibre, a subsidiary of Metsäliitto Cooperative, under EU antitrust rules as part of larger investigation of the market for wood pulp sector.

According to current information Metsä Board is not subject to investigations.

Metsä Fibre will cooperate in full with the European Commission authorities.

The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.

Stora Enso and UPM are also included in the inspections.

The Commission said that it had concerns "that the inspected companies may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices according to Arcticle 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union." The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.