Today, officials of the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of an undertaking active in the children’s toys sector (excluding digital games). The dawn raid was carried out in the context of the HCC’s ex officio investigation in this market, which was launched in November 2021. The HCC suspects that the inspected company may have engaged in horizontal or vertical agreements or concerted practices in violation of Article 1 of Law no. 3959/2011 and/or Article 101 of the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union.
Unannounced inspections are a preliminary step in an investigation into suspected anticompetitive practices. The fact that the HCC has carried out inspections does not mean that the inspected undertakings have engaged in anti-competitive behavior, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.
Legal Framework
The HCC is responsible for enforcing Greek and EU antitrust rules in the Greek territory (Articles 1 and 2 of Greek Law 3959/2011 and Articles 101 and 102 TFEU).
- Article 1 of Law no. 3959/2011 and Article 101 of the TFEU prohibit anticompetitive agreements and decisions of associations of undertakings that prevent, restrict or distort competition.
- Article 2 of Law no. 3959/2011 and Article 102 of the TFEU prohibit the abuse of a dominant position.
The HCC investigates any suspected infringement of Greek and EU antitrust laws which is brought to its attention through complaints, applications for leniency, or other sources of information, including its recently launched whistleblowing tool. The HCC will impose severe administrative sanctions on undertakings which are found to have adopted such anti-competitive practices.
