NMa terminates investigation into pharmaceutical producers and branch organisations

The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) has terminated its investigation into possibly anti-competitive behaviour of a number of producers of generic medicine and their branch organisations. The investigation so far has yielded insufficient evidence to warrant a continuation of the investigation.

Generic medicine concerns unpatented medicine. In September 2003 the NMa started an investigation into possibly anti-competitive behaviour among producers of generic medicine. The NMa commenced its investigation after signals from the market pointed towards the possible existence of price agreements on generic medicine. In January 2004 the NMa undertook company visits to various pharmaceutical producers as well as branch organisations.

Health care, comprising the pharmaceutical column, constitutes a priority in NMa policy. The NMa will continue to monitor the market actively and is alert on the signals it receives, for instance through its tip-off line. In so doing, the NMa cooperates with the Netherlands Health Authority (formally to be established later this year).