CCI: No violation in Maha chemists association case

Mumbai: The Competition Commission has found no evidence of Mumbai-based Retail and Dispensing Chemists Association (RDCA) indulging in anti-competitive practices with respect to charging fees for product information services from pharmaceutical companies.

The conclusion was drawn after considering the report of its investigation arm, the Director General (DG), and views from various entities. The regulator has ruled that there is “no cogent evidence on record” to suggest that collection of Product Information Services (PIS) charges by the association was mandatory. Generally, PIS is in the nature of a fee charged by chemist and druggist associations for introducing a new product launched by pharmaceutical companies in their bulletins and newsletters.

After the regulator ordered a detailed probe into the matter on August 25, 2015, the RDCA had moved the Delhi high court as it was aggrieved by the decision.

On March 19, 2018, the HC said that if any final order is passed by the CCI, it would be subject to orders in the writ petition. “There is no evidence on record to suggest that collection of PIS charges by the opposite party from pharmaceutical companies was mandatory,” the CCI said.