The Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets regulates various markets.
One such market is the ready-mix concrete market.
Thanks to ACM, companies in this market have made commitments...
thereby ensuring that the industry remains competitive.
Ready-mix concrete is used for building homes, offices, bridges and overpasses.
Competition is good for competitive prices, higher quality, more choice...
better service, and more innovation in the industry.
After mixing the ready-mix concrete, it must be transported quickly.
Almost 200 ready-mix concrete plants are located across the Netherlands.
These plants were sometimes used by two or more competitors.
This joint use may have led to reduced competition between these competitors...
for example, because they exchanged information.
Sometimes they also shared jobs. Customers became confused.
Whom are they actually dealing with?
When firms sold land, they sometimes demanded...
that no ready-mix concrete plant could ever be built again there.
Competitors were thus prevented from making ready-mix concrete on those sites.
ACM was unable to determine if these firms routinely reviewed their collaborations.
Do they comply with antitrust rules or not?
ACM identified anticompetitive risks in the ready-mix concrete industry.
ACM discussed its concerns with several firms.
These firms have now made the following commitments:
If competitors have too large a market share because of joint use of a plant...
their collaboration must be adjusted.
Competitors may only share jobs if sharing is truly necessary.
It should always be clear to customers who carries out what.
Firms must register when they discussed what with competitors.
This increases awareness of what is discussed with whom...
and why that is important.
There can be no obstacles when selling ready-mix concrete plants.
Employees must be trained on a permanent basis about the rules...
and compliance therewith.
Non-compliance may result in internal penalties.
With the firms' commitments...
the ready-mix concrete sector becomes more competitive.
Governments, businesses and consumers thus benefit...
when homes, offices, bridges and overpasses are built.
These commitments have been made for the next ten years.
ACM will ensure that they will be met.
ACM creates opportunities and options for businesses and consumers.