(News from RISI) – Empresas CMPC has agreed to join a mediation proposed by the Chilean Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Servicio Nacional del Consumidor – SERNAC) in order to compensate consumers affected by a price collusion involving the two largest producers in Chile, Empresas CMPC and SCA, through their subsidiaries CMPC Tissue and PISA.
CMPC general manager Hernán Rodríguez said in an interview with a local newspaper: “We issued a public communication to SERNAC saying that we’ll collectively seek a mechanism to compensate consumers. It is not an easy task, which requires us to work with experts and authorities.”
Chile’s competitive practices regulator (Fiscalía Nacional Económica – FNE) is accusing CMPC Tissue and PISA of colluding to control market prices in the country from 2000 to 2011, including prices for toilet paper, paper towels, napkins and facial wipes.
According to the local media, SCA did not agree to participate in the SERNAC’s mediation process.
The company said it will wait for the Free Competition Defense Court (TDLC)’s decision on the tissue cartel, since the volunteer mediation could negatively affect its position the legal process.
