Press releases

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) welcomes the European Commission’s decision today to fine Teva and Cephalon 30 and 30.5 million euros respectively for agreeing not to market a cheaper generic version of Cephalon's drug for sleep disorders, modafinil, in Europe for six years. The “pay for delay” agreement, which the Commission has found to violate EU antitrust rules, allowed Cephalon to charge European patients and healthcare systems higher prices for the drug in the six year period before Teva finally marketed its generic alternative.

The EU Commission published its Pharmaceutical Strategy today, aiming to ensure patients timely access to safe and affordable treatment and to support medical innovation and pharma competitiveness. The Strategy brings momentum to effectively address medicine shortages and high prices, a long-standing issue in the EU.

Today the European Commission adopted the “Consumer Agenda”, its consumer policy strategy for the next five years. It lays down the Commission’s consumer policy objectives and will serve as guidance to include consumer interests in all policy areas. Focus areas are the green and digital transition as well as the post-COVID economic recovery.

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) welcomes the European Commission’s decision today to file antitrust charges against Amazon for competing unfairly with sellers on its marketplace and has formally applied to intervene to support the Commission’s investigation.