The company abused its dominant position in the national markets for raw materials used in the production of bags (lightweight and ultra-lightweight for fruit and vegetables) by engaging in exclusionary practices targeting competitors.

The Italian Competition Authority has imposed a 30,359,000.00 euro fine on Novamont S.p.A., with an additional 1,701,052.08 euro imposed jointly and severally with parent company ENI S.p.A. for abuse of dominant position spanning at least the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2023.

Novamont operates in the national markets for bioplastic raw materials (so-called bio-compounds) used in the production of shopping bags and ultra-lightweight bags (e.g., for fruit and vegetables). This sector plays a key role in reducing environmental impact, given that bags often end up as waste. This is why, as part of its transposition of EU Directive 2015/720, Italy’s Legislative Decree 152/2006 mandates that all shopping and ultra-lightweight bags be biodegradable and compostable. Ultra-lightweight bags must also contain no less than 60% renewable raw materials.

The Authority found that Novamont developed a product compliant with applicable standards (named Mater-Bi) and acquired a dominant position in the national market for the production of bioplastics used in shopping bags (with a market share above 50%) and ultra-lightweight bags (with a market share above 70%).

In these markets, Novamont set up a two-tier system of supply agreements imposing exclusivity clauses operating at two levels of the supply chain, as a result of which:

• converters (i.e., manufacturers purchasing bio-compounds to produce shopping and ultra-lightweight bags) were prevented from buying materials other than Mater-Bi, which consequently denied Novamont’s competitors access to the market (these converters accounted for around 52% of national demand for bio-compounds for shopping bags, and 70% of demand for ultra-lightweight bags);
• Large-scale retailers (customers of the converters, serving as the primary purchasers of the bags in question) were obliged to buy exclusively Mater-Bi bags from converters partnered with Novamont. During the period under examination, the large-scale retailers under contract with Novamont accounted for as much as 44% of total demand for shopping and ultra-lightweight bags in the retail sector, and for a substantial share (up to 51%) of the revenue generated by converters affiliated with Novamont.

This system resulted in an exclusionary practice targeting Novamont’s competitors, through a circular mechanism producing the following effects:

1. As long as leading large-scale retailers agree to buy exclusively Mater-Bi bags from converters affiliated with Novamont, those converters have a strong incentive to accept the exclusivity clauses imposed by Novamont.
2. As long as the majority of converters supplying large-scale retailers are bound to Novamont by exclusivity clauses, large-scale retailers benefit from signing contracts with Novamont containing reward-based exclusivity clauses and/or incentive mechanisms.

Novamont’s exclusionary practice hindered the development of fair competition in the national markets for the production and sale of bio-compounds for shopping and ultra-lightweight bags. It effectively prevented competitors from finding viable outlets for their products and from operating successfully in those markets.

Limiting the development of alternatives to Mater-Bi not only harms competition, but also has significant environmental implications. A truly competitive market in the bioplastics sector is essential to achieving the environmental objectives established by European and national policymakers. Effective competition would enable the emergence of alternative, more efficient bioplastics and contribute to the availability of more sustainable products, offering improved quality or lower costs.

Rome, 24 June 2025

The company, which manages 40 fitness and wellness centres across Italy’s major cities, did not adequately inform customers about subscription terms and renewal conditions.

The Italian Competition Authority has closed its investigation launched in December 2024 into Virgin Active Italia, imposing a fine of 3 million euro. Prompted by numerous consumer complaints, the investigation confirmed that the company engaged in unfair practices. Virgin Active Italia – which reached over 100,000 subscriptions in 2024 – provided consumers with inadequate information regarding the terms and conditions of subscription, automatic renewal, cancellation and early termination. Furthermore, the company neglected to inform consumers in advance about the automatic renewal of their subscription and the deadline to exercise their cancellation rights. It also failed to clearly disclose the price increases introduced in 2024.

These actions – carried out as part of an integrated strategy – amount to a coordinated and complex unfair commercial practice adopted by Virgin Active Italia in breach of articles 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, letter f) and 65-bis of the Consumer Code.

In particular, Virgin Active Italia’s customers were in no position to make an informed decision about whether to subscribe to the services offered, cancel their subscription, or exercise their right of withdrawal. As a result, they found themselves contractually bound to a service they had not knowingly agreed to and were charged with the relevant costs.

Rome, 18 June 2025

Fines for Big Luca and Michele Leka for promoting high-earning strategies while failing to disclose the advertising intent behind their communications. Commitments accepted from Luca Marani, Alessandro Berton, Hamza Mourai and Davide Caiazzo. Four other cases in the same sector were resolved by the Authority through moral suasion earlier this year.

The Italian Competition Authority has closed investigations into Luca Marani, Alessandro Berton, Hamza Mourai, Davide Caiazzo, Luca De Stefani and Michele Leka. The proceedings concerning the first four influencers were closed with commitments, while De Stefani and Leka were fined 65 thousand euro in total. The investigations were launched in July 2024 because the influencers repeatedly published photos and/or videos – on their social platforms and websites – offering paid advice on how to “make substantial, easy and risk-free profits”, modelled on their own success stories. However, they failed to label the content as advertising, and consumers were therefore not informed of its commercial nature. In addition, key factors affecting purchasing decisions, such as the price of the goods and/or services offered, were not adequately disclosed.

In the case concerning Luca De Stefani (also known as Big Luca), the Authority found that he had engaged in two unfair commercial practices and imposed a fine of 60 thousand euro. The first practice involved heavily promoting easy and risk-free profits online, including through claims and endorsements – from brands, news outlets, television networks and programmes – that were not readily verifiable. These commercial communications were not labelled as advertising and failed to clearly disclose key information relevant to consumer purchasing decisions. The second practice consisted in presenting an inflated sense of popularity in commercial communications, supported by fake Instagram followers, exclusively positive testimonials and reviews that could not be easily verified.

With regard to Michele Leka, the Authority imposed a 5 thousand euro fine for an unfair commercial practice involving the publication of photos and videos on TikTok offering simple strategies and advice promising substantial financial gains.

The Authority’s proceedings into Marani, Berton, Mourai and Caiazzo were closed without establishing any infringement, but by accepting a set of commitments. These include the removal of language promoting easy or risk-free profits from all their social media platforms and websites. The four influencers have also agreed to use advertising disclaimers, remove fake followers from their social media profiles and monitor them using appropriate tools, and to align their online activities with consumer protection regulations.

These latest actions are part of a wider effort by the Authority to ensure transparency and compliance in the influencer marketing sector, with a particular focus on making the advertising nature of online content clear to users. In this regard, back in January 2025, the Authority successfully concluded its moral suasion efforts targeting Ludovica Meral Frasca, Sofia Giaele De Donà, Milena Miconi and Alessandra Ventura.

Rome, 11 June 2025

The call centres appear to have contacted consumers with offers to activate energy and phone service contracts, based on misleading information regarding the caller’s identity, the reason for the call and the financial benefits of the proposed offers

The Italian Competition Authority has launched, also thanks to the investigative activities carried out by the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza), seven proceedings into call centre companies promoting energy contracts – Action S.r.l., Fire S.r.l., J.Wolf Consulting S.r.l. and Noma Trade S.r.l. – and contracts in the telecommunications sector – Entiende S.r.l., Nova Group S.r.l and My Phone S.r.l..

The intervention seeks to tackle unfair telemarketing – a pressing issue for the Authority, which receives daily complaints from consumers about calls promoting contracts based on misleading information. It seems that the call centres under investigation contacted consumers with offers to activate energy and phone service contracts, based on misleading information regarding the caller’s identity, the reason for the call and the financial benefits of the proposed offers. In many cases, the calls appear to have originated from disguised numbers using a technique known as CLI spoofing, which allows the caller ID to be falsified. Various telemarketing methods were reportedly used, all involving the transmission of unclear and misleading information.

In the energy sector, it seems that telemarketing operators often pose as staff from the consumer’s current supplier or as officials from regulatory or supervisory bodies, claiming that existing tariffs are no longer competitive. Other times, they are said to cite technical complications or switching-related problems to persuade consumers to sign a new supply agreement.

In the telecommunications sector, callers trying to convince consumers to switch operators allegedly make false claims regarding service disruptions or imminent price increases from the consumer’s current provider. In some cases, consumers are reportedly persuaded to sign a new contract – either with a new operator or their existing one – following promises of highly favourable contract terms later found to be false.

The Authority highlights that, together with the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA), it has launched the “Difenditi così” campaign to inform consumers about their rights and ways to protect themselves from persistent and aggressive telemarketing. Further information is available on www.difenditicosi.it. The Authority’s free consumer helpline is also available at 800.166.661 (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

An inspection at the premises of the companies under investigation was carried out yesterday with the assistance of the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza). In this regard, the President of the Authority, Roberto Rustichelli, stated: “I express my sincere appreciation for the work carried out by the men and women of the Special Antitrust Unit and the local units of the Italian Financial Police in the provinces of Naples and Caserta”.

Rome, 23 May 2025

Investigation launched in July 2024 into several Group companies ends with commitments, including revised ethics and social responsibility statements, new protocols for supplier vetting and monitoring, as well as for enhanced internal oversight.

The Italian Competition Authority has closed the investigation launched in July 2024 into Christian Dior Couture S.A., Christian Dior Italia S.r.l. and Manufactures Dior S.r.l. without establishing any infringement, but by accepting and making binding the companies’ proposed commitments. The investigation had been launched under the Consumer Code in response to potentially false ethics and social responsibility statements, particularly concerning working conditions and legal compliance among certain leather goods suppliers.

The commitments made binding by the Authority include 2 million euro over 5 years to fund targeted initiatives – also open to other fashion brands producing in Italy – aimed at identifying victims of labour exploitation and providing them with tailored protection, training, support, as well as social and workplace integration.

The commitments also envisage amendments to the ethics and social responsibility statements, as well as new protocols aimed at strengthening the supplier vetting and monitoring process. Moreover, employees working in marketing and communication will undergo in-house training on consumer protection laws, while suppliers and subcontractors will receive external training focused on labour law and the ethical principles outlined in the Supplier Code of Conduct adopted by the companies of the Dior Group.

Rome, 21 May 2025

The Authority invited the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) to take steps so that consumers wishing to buy tickets for the ongoing tournament are clearly informed from the outset about the mandatory service fees added to the base ticket price.

The Italian Competition Authority has exerted its moral suasion on the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, urging it to provide consumers – from the very beginning of the purchasing process – with clear and adequate information about the additional fees applied to ticket purchases for the 2025 Italian Open (also known as Internazionali BNL d’Italia). The tickets for the tournament, organised and managed by the Federation, are available for purchase on the event’s website www.internazionalibnlditalia.com.

The lack of immediate access to this information could have amounted to a violation of articles 20, 21 e 22 of the Consumer Code, as it could have limited consumers’ freedom of choice or behaviour, and misled them into believing the price was lower than the final amount charged at checkout.

Following the moral suasion, the Federation updated the section of the website dedicated to ticket sales for the 2025 Italian Open event, so that as soon as ticket prices appear, consumers are clearly informed of a service fee, ranging from 1.50 euros to 7% of the ticket price. Similar changes were applied to other websites for events managed by the Federation.

Moreover, FITP has agreed to update all event websites it manages by the end of June, to ensure that the exact amount of the service fee for each ticket type is clearly visible from the very start of the purchase process.

Rome, 8 May 2025

Investigation closed with commitments following suspected unfair practice in notifying the renewal of expiring supply terms to customers.

The Italian Competition Authority’s investigation into Enel Energia over a suspected unfair commercial practice has been closed with commitments. The investigation had been launched because the methods adopted by the company to inform customers about the renewal of expiring economic supply conditions – effective from 1 June 2023 – may have left consumers unaware of the price increases. Moreover, where renewal notices were sent digitally, the accompanying letter (so-called DEM) could have been mistaken for a promotional message.

Thanks to the commitments secured by the Authority, Enel Energia will offer over 40,000 customers more than 5 million euro in compensation. In particular, compensation will be granted automatically to customers who were informed of the renewal by post (with economic supply conditions effective from June 2023 until April 2024) – but whose notice went undelivered. Customers who received a renewal notice online (with economic supply conditions effective from June 2023 until April 2024) will also receive compensation – provided they filed a complaint citing the unclear communication of the new contractual conditions with Enel Energia and/or the Authority within the date of the latter’s commitment acceptance decision.

Compensation will apply both to consumers that maintained their contract with the company – who will receive a bonus on their invoice – and to those that switched to another provider, who will be issued a credit note. Enel Energia also agreed to introduce a range of informational measures, consisting of a coordinated system of notices and alerts (SMS, email, invoice, app notifications and Customer Account) to remind customers of the new supply conditions.

Lastly, the company agreed to change the design and wording of its DEMs, as well as to upgrade its IT systems and features of its customer support service, especially when it comes to the renewal of expiring contractual conditions.

Rome, 6 May 2025

The company sells garments manufactured in Tunisia and exported with a price tag displaying two amounts, with the higher one crossed out. The Authority believes the clothing may have been produced from the outset to be sold at a lower price in outlet stores

Following concerns flagged by the Livorno Customs Office, the Italian Competition Authority launched an investigation into Man Project S.r.l. over an unfair commercial practice. The company sells garments under the Coveri Tailor brand, which arrive in Italy with a price tag featuring two amounts, the higher of which is crossed out.

According to the Authority, the garments are new, made in Tunisia and manufactured for the sole purpose of being sold in outlets, even though they have never been for sale in other stores. They are therefore specifically designed to be sold in outlet stores at a lower price.

This sales approach and price indication could qualify as an unfair commercial practice. It may lead consumers to think that the products are from a well-known brand, sold at a discounted price as surplus stock or unsold items from previous collections.

Moreover, the price tag showing two amounts, with the higher of the two crossed out and not reflecting the actual price – but rather an estimated ‘market value’ of the products – may cause consumers to perceive the purchase as a particularly good deal.

An inspection at the premises of Man Project S.r.l. was carried out yesterday by the Authority’s officials, assisted by the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza).

Rome, 11 April 2025

The Authority imposed fines over prolonged ticket unavailability, partly caused by bots and other automated hoarding tools.

The Italian Competition Authority has imposed a fine of almost 20 million euro on Società Cooperativa Culture (CoopCulture) and tour operators Tiqets International BV, GetYourGuide Deutschland GmbH, Walks LLC, Italy With Family S.r.l., City Wonders Limited and Musement S.p.A. The investigation was launched in July 2023, after the Authority gathered information indicating that the online purchase of tickets to access the Colosseum Archaeological Park was essentially impossible.

CoopCulture, which managed the official ticket sale service for access to the Colosseum from 1997 until 2024, was issued an administrative fine of 7 million euro for knowingly contributing to the substantial and prolonged unavailability of base-priced tickets for entry to the Colosseum. On the one hand, CoopCulture failed to take adequate steps to counter automated ticket hoarding; on the other, it kept a sizeable share of tickets for bundled sales tied to its own educational tours, which generated considerable profits. This resulted in CoopCulture forcing consumers to turn to tour operators and platforms that resold tickets bundled with additional services (such as guided tours, pickup, or priority access) at much higher prices.

Within the same proceedings, the Authority also imposed fines on the six tour operators mentioned above, which used bots or other automated tools to purchase tickets, contributing to the rapid disappearance of base-priced tickets on the website of licensed operator CoopCulture. By doing so, the operators benefited from the constant unavailability of tickets, which left consumers seeking access to the Colosseum with no choice but to purchase them through these channels – often at much higher prices due to the bundling with additional services offered either directly or via other operators.

The Authority found that CoopCulture’s conduct amounts to an unfair commercial practice in breach of article 20, paragraph 2 of the Consumer Code; the conduct put in place by Tiqets International BV, GetYourGuide Deutschland GmbH, Walks LLC, Italy With Family S.r.l., City Wonders Limited and Musement S.p.A. on the other hand, was found to be in violation of articles 24 and 25 of the Code, and – as of 2 April 2023 – also of article 23, paragraph 1, bb-bis) of the same Code.

Rome, 8 April 2025