Albalact loses final appeal against 9.9 million lei competition fine

The Bucharest Tribunal has definitively upheld a fine of approximately 9.91 million lei (roughly 2 million euros) against Albalact, a Romanian dairy company owned by the French group Lactalis. The sanction was imposed by the Romanian Competition Council following an unannounced inspection in March 2023.

The investigation was part of a broader inquiry into potential price-fixing agreements within the butter production and marketing market. The fines were issued because the companies refused to cooperate with inspectors by denying access to specific information, including employee email accounts and correspondence.

In addition to the ruling against Albalact, the Competition Council also won legal challenges against two other Lactalis-owned entities, Covalact SA and Dorna Lactate SA. The total fines issued to the three companies amounted to approximately 14.33 million lei.