Spain: Spanish Competition Authority (CNC) Commences Investigation Against Grafoplas Del Noroeste For Obstructing Inspection Of Documents

On 27 October 2010 officials of the Investigations Division of the CNC entered the premises of Grafoplas del Noroeste, S.A. (Grafoplas) in Culleredo (Coruña) to carry out searches in accordance with Article 40 of the Spanish Competition Act (Law 15/2007). The Investigations Division was acting in accordance with a Court order authorising the inspection.

In the course of the inspection, some documents relevant to the investigation disappeared. As a result of this, on 3 February 2011, the CNC's Investigations Division opened proceedings against Grafoplas on the ground that the conduct described constituted an obstruction of an inspection as prohibited under Article 62.2.e) of the Spanish Competition Act.

The opening of these proceedings does not pre-judge the final outcome of the investigation. The CNC now has up to a month to investigate the case and issue a decision.

To view Community Week, Issue 508; 11^th February 2011 in full, Click here.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.