CCI 2 LAST

According to CCI, the cement companies used the CMA According to CCI, the cement companies used the CMAplatform and shared details relating to prices, capacityutilisation, production and dispatch and thereby restrictedproduction and supplies in the market. It was also found that the companies were acting in"concert in fixing prices of cement" which contravenescompetition norms. Among others, CMA has been asked to disengage anddisassociate itself from collecting wholesale and retailprices through member cement companies or otherwise. The association has also been restrained from collectingand circulating the details relating to production anddispatch by cement companies. Highlighting the role of trade associations in promotingthe interests of their members and the industry, CCI saidcement companies were interacting using the platform madeavailable by CMA. "Such interactions have been found to have transgressedthe limits in sharing of information and extended todiscussions on cost, prices, production and capacities,thereby, facilitating the enterprises to determine prices andproduction in a concerted and collusive manner, than in acompetitive manner," the release said. Further, the watchdog cautioned that all those whoparticipate in association activities, whether as a member oran executive or manager or employee, have to be sensitive to"the discussions not transgressing advertently or otherwiseinto anti-trust behaviour or practices". PTI RAMABK