December 20/2011
Japan Fair Trade Commission
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) today issued cease and desist orders, and surcharge payment orders against 3 manufacturers of LPG instruments, Katsura Co., Ltd., Ito Koki Co.,Ltd., and Fujikohki Co., Ltd. since they substantially restrained competition in the field of sales of Specified LPG Instruments (Note)in Japan, in concert with one another, making the agreement to raise the selling prices of Specified LPG Instruments. The total amount of the surcharge payment is 875.21 million yen.
Before issuing the cease and desist orders,and surcharge payment orders, the JFTC had given the enterprises in question an advance notification on the contents of the orders and an opportunity to present their views and to submit evidence. Considering the views and evidence from them, the JFTC issued the orders. The recipients dissatisfied with the orders may request the JFTC to initiate a hearing regarding the orders within sixty days of the date on which the transcript of the orders were served.
(Note) The term “Specified LPG Instruments” means instruments for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, excluding the one for automobile fuel, listed below, and their combinations:
1. Single-stage regulator;
2. A certain type of two-stage regulators;
3. A certain type of automatic switchable regulators;
4. High pressure rubber hose for LPG;
5. Low pressure rubber hose for LPG;
6. Gas Manifold;
7. Gas valve having thread connection.
*Every announcement is tentative translation. Please refer to the original text written in Japanese.
