The Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (AMO) has started an administrative proceeding to look into a suspected cartel agreement in the market for medicines supply and wholesale distribution. The investigation involves entrepreneurs who may have coordinated bids, prices, market allocation, and exchanged sensitive information.

The probe is based on Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which deals with agreements that restrict competition and impact cross-border trade within the EU.

If proven, this could be a serious violation of competition rules, as it suggests a horizontal agreement among direct competitors, which is classified as a hard-core cartel offense.

The initiation of the administrative proceeding by AMO does not automatically imply guilt on the part of the companies under investigation, nor does it predetermine the outcome of the investigation or the decisions that AMO may make.