Mowi refutes competition rules wrongdoing

As previously reported by WF, Mowi is one of six Norwegian producers of farmed Atlantic salmon to receive a Statement of Objections from the European Commission. Cermaq, Grieg Seafood, Bremnes, Lerøy and SalMar have also been informed.

Mowi pointed out that the Statement of Objections is not a final decision, but rather the Commission’s preliminary view that the companies under investigation may have breached EU competition rules.

In a statement, it said: “Mowi contests the Commission’s preliminary view and the characteristics of the alleged behaviour in the market for farmed Norwegian Atlantic salmon, and strongly believes there has been no infringement of the competition rules.

“Mowi will now carefully review the Commission’s Statement and reply in writing, following standard process.”

The company continued, “Issuing a Statement of Objections and opening a formal procedure does not in any way prejudge the outcome. The Commission will first after the parties have exercised their rights of defence conclude on whether the alleged behaviour amounts to a violation of the EU competition rules.”

The Commission has confirmed it has concerns that between 2011 and 2019, the six salmon producers exchanged commercially sensitive information, relating to sales prices, available volumes, sales volumes, production volumes and production capacities, as well as other price-setting factors.

It said the suspected aim of this alleged conduct was to reduce normal uncertainty in the market for spot sales of Norwegian farmed Atlantic salmon into the EU.

The alleged anticompetitive conduct only concerns sales on the spot market into the EU, as opposed to sales based on long-term contracts. Spot sales are those for which prices, volumes and other sales conditions are agreed per sale, based on the market conditions on the day of the sale.