The European Commission today (20 July) fined ten companies for operating a cartel in the market for animal feed phosphates. It fined the companies a total of €175.6 million for operating the cartel, which started in 1969 and lasted until February 2004.

Animal feed phosphates are chemical compounds used in feed for animals such as cattle, pigs and poultry.

Three companies – Kemira Oyi, Yara Phosphates and Yara Suomi Oy – were not fined because they informed the Commission about the cartel and co-operated during the investigation. Eight companies received a 10% reduction in their fines for co-operating with the Commission.

Some of the companies had their fines reduced because the cartel had been operating for so long that the financial penalties they incurred would have exceeded the maximum limit of 10% of a company’s 2009 turnover. Tessenenderlo Chemie NV, a Belgian company, received a 50% reduction in its fine, while Quimtecnica.com and José de Mello of Portugal received a 25% reduction.

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