The European Commission has fined French synthetic turf companies Eurofield SAS and Unanime Sport SAS a total of around EUR 172,000. The companies have been found guilty of providing an incomplete reply to a request for information issued in the context of the Commission’s investigation in the synthetic turf sector.

Unanime Sport SAS was the ultimate parent of Eurofield at the time of the infringement.

It is the first time in history that the Commission has imposed a fine on companies for providing an incomplete reply to a request for information.

“Information requests are a vital tool to uncover antitrust infringements. If companies do not provide full and complete replies to our requests, they can compromise our investigations. Today’s decision marks the first time we fine a company for such a procedural breach in the context of an antitrust procedure. We will not hesitate to pursue similar cases in the future to ensure that our investigations are carried out effectively to the benefit of consumers,” EC Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera.

In June 2023, the Commission sent a simple request for information by letter to Eurofield in the context of its investigation in the synthetic turf sector. After carefully assessing  Eurofield’s reply, and after comparing it with documents collected in the context of unannounced inspections, the Commission had indications that the reply was incomplete. It therefore issued, in October 2023, a subsequent request for information to the company, this time by decision under article 18(3) of Regulation No 1/2003, and made it aware of its concerns. Eurofield again replied in an incomplete manner.

In November 2024, the Commission informed the parties  that it had opened an investigation into the suspected procedural breach related to the incomplete reply. From then, the parties agreed to cooperate with the Commission in this investigation, by acknowledging their liability for the infringement and accepting to pay a fine. In this context, the parties submitted the documents identified as having been omitted as well as supplementary information that the Commission had not identified as missing.

Serious infringement

The EU Commission considers the infringement committed by Eurofield as ‘serious’. Requests for information are one of the main investigative tools used by the Commission to gather information in antitrust investigations. The effectiveness of such an investigation is therefore largely dependent on complete and accurate responses. Omitting information may therefore seriously hamper the Commission’s ability to effectively investigate anti-competitive conduct.

On this basis, the Commission has concluded that a fine corresponding to 0.3% of the parties’ combined total turnover would be both proportionate and deterrent. At the same time, the Commission has decided to reward the parties for their proactive cooperation once they were made aware of the investigation into their suspected procedural breach. It has therefore decided to reduce the fine by 30%, resulting in a fine totalling around EUR 172,000.

The fine is imposed jointly and severally on Eurofield and on Unanime Sport, which was the ultimate parent at the time of the infringement and can therefore also be held liable under the presumption of parental liability.

In February 2024, the TenCate Grass Group acquired a majority stake in Unanime Sport. The TenCate Grass Group was also visited by investigators on behalf over the European commission.

The Commission’s investigation into the synthetic turf industry is still ongoing and is a separate procedure.