On Wednesday, the antitrust watchdog of the European Union conducted raids on companies involved in the synthetic turf industry across multiple EU countries, due to suspicions of potential participation in a cartel.
According to Reuters, the European Commission, responsible for enforcing competition laws in the 27-country bloc, did not disclose the names of the companies or countries involved.
“The Commission has concerns that the inspected companies may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices,” the EU antitrust agency said in a statement.
Synthetic turf is a type of artificial grass that imitates the look and properties of natural grass. The ongoing inquiry by the EU focuses on its use in sports.
According to EU antitrust rules, companies that violate them could be subject to fines up to 10% of their worldwide revenue.
