The Italian Council of State partially upholds the Competition Authority’s decision to fine undertakings for cartel conduct in the market for production and marketing of corrugated cardboard packaging (Alliabox / Ondulati del Salvio / Sandra / Topazzini)

The Consiglio di Stato (the Italian Supreme Administrative Court) has upheld the decision of the Italian Competition Authority ("ICA"), and confirmed the existence of price fixing and market sharing cartels concerning the production and marketing of corrugated cardboard packaging. [1] The Consiglio di Stato published its first decision in November 2022 [2] and has adopted 18 similar decisions since then. The decisions follow an appeal to the Lazio Regional Administrative Court ("TAR") by the companies found to have participated in the cartel and fined by the ICA. Background On 17 July 2019, the ICA found that several companies and a trade association participated in two cartels regarding the production and sale of corrugated cardboard sheets and packaging (one cartel involved collusion