The state’s antimonopoly watchdog said it was imposing a $1.6 million fine on the local unit of U.S. medical equipment maker Becton Dickinson and Co. for “abusing its position” in the Venezuelan market.
The Office for the Promotion and Protection of Free Competition (Pro-Competencia) said Becton Dickinson Venezuela had refused to sell to its local authorized distributor, Inmunolab Laboratorios C.A., chemical reagents used in Becton Dickinson’s medical testing kits for HIV and AIDS patients.
It added that since Becton Dickinson controlled a 100- percent local market share for these FACSCount diagnostic systems used in the treatment of AIDS in Venezuela, this move by the U.S. company put the local patients at risk.
“Pro-Competencia has decided ... to impose a fine of Bs.3,484,267,331 ($1.6 million) on Becton Dickinson Venezuela C.A., for abusing its dominant position and the practice of exclusion,” Pro-Competencia said in a statement on Friday.
By Reuters
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