The Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) has sanctioned I.C.O.N. Europe, S.L. with a fine of €1,197,907 for restricting competition in the professional hair care products market. The company was found to have engaged in practices such as price fixing and imposing commercial conditions on its distributors.

Between 2010 and 2024, I.C.O.N. implemented a system that required its wholesale distributors in the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands to adhere to fixed resale prices. Additionally, from 2017 to 2023, the company enforced minimum advertised prices for its products sold online across Spain, limiting discounts and promotions that could be offered by retailers.

To ensure compliance, I.C.O.N. monitored the websites of its distributors, demanding immediate corrections for any deviations in pricing or discounts. The company also threatened and retaliated against distributors who did not comply with its pricing rules. Notably, while prohibiting its distributors from selling on platforms like Amazon, I.C.O.N. itself sold products on that platform through a third-party company, Transparency Quality, S.L., which it concealed from both its distributors and the CNMC during inspections.

The CNMC's decision marks the second instance where it has directly set the scope and duration of a public contracting ban, following a previous case. In addition to the fine, I.C.O.N. is prohibited from participating in public contracts related to hair care products for five months.