The Czech Office for the Protection of Competition conducted an unannounced local inspection last week at a competitor suspected of possible involvement in a prohibited agreement in the tobacco and tobacco products market.

This inspection is related to previous local inspections carried out in June of this year at three other companies.

During these inspections, the authority is verifying initial suspicions of potential violations of competition law, specifically the possibility of engaging in prohibited agreements or abusing a dominant position, and is collecting evidence to substantiate such conduct.

It is important to note that the execution of a local inspection does not imply that illegal conduct has actually occurred, nor does it mean that administrative proceedings will be initiated or sanctions imposed in this matter.