The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has confirmed that its Investigations and Prosecution Service is currently carrying out inspections at various companies operating within the personal care and retail sectors. This action follows the receipt of information suggesting possible violations of Article IV.1 of the Code of Economic Law and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, both of which prohibit anticompetitive agreements.

As part of these inspections, the BCA has updated its guidelines to align with current practices, which are available for public consultation on its official website. It is important to note that these inspections are preliminary steps in investigating restrictive practices and do not imply any predetermined conclusions regarding the investigations.

The duration of the investigations will vary based on several factors, including the complexity of the case, the level of cooperation from the companies involved, and the exercise of the rights of defense. The BCA plays a crucial role in enforcing competition policy in Belgium, targeting anti-competitive practices such as cartels and abuses of dominant positions, while also reviewing significant merger operations.