The Spanish Competition Authority (CNMC) has initiated a sanctioning procedure against I.C.O.N. Europe S.L. due to potential restrictive competition practices, specifically concerning the resale price of professional hairdressing products.

This investigation was prompted by a complaint from a customer, leading the CNMC to conduct a preliminary inquiry and inspections in May 2023. The findings from these inspections suggested possible anticompetitive behavior by I.C.O.N. Europe, particularly in relation to the wholesale and retail pricing of their products, including those sold by distributors online.

Such practices are believed to violate Article 1 of the Spanish Competition Defense Law (Ley 15/2007) and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFUE). The alleged price-fixing could hinder price competition among distributors, preventing them from freely setting their selling prices.

The initiation of this procedure does not imply any presumption regarding the outcome of the investigation, which now has a maximum resolution period of 24 months.