Colombia: Verdict on tissue paper cartel expected for June

Colombian competition authorities have announced that they have concluded the initial probes on the Tissue Paper Cartel case, known throughout South America as the Comfort Cartel. The following stage will comprise hearings and depositions, which have been programmed to begin sometime in February. The case will be concluded no later than June, said Industry and Commerce Superintendent Pablo Felipe Robledo.

Colombia’s competition regulator has denounced the five leading sellers of tissue paper in the country for having operated a decade-long cartel set on fixing prices for these products. Three of these companies have applied for the country’s leniency agreements, helping to speed up an investigation which may result in fines totalling over $20 million.

Among the five companies is Drypers Andina, a subsidiary of Chile’s CMPC, which faces similar charges in Peru and Chile. The case is being prosecuted by Peru’s INDECOPI, which has warned that it may take it several years to reach a verdict.

Full content: El Comercio

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