7.2.85 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 35/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 23 November 1984 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/30.907 — Peroxygen products) (Only the English, French and German texts are authentic) (85/74/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro- pean Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (!), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Greece, and in particular Articles 3 and 15 thereof, Having regard to the Commission Decision of 9 September 1983 to open a proceeding on its own initiative pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation No 17, Having given the parties concerned the opportunity to make known their views on the objections raised by the Commission, pursuant to Article 19 (1) of Regulation No 17 and Commission Regulation No 99/63/EEC of 25 July 1963 on the hearings provided for in Article 19 (1) and (2) of Council Regulation No 17 (%), After consulting the Advisory Committee on Re- strictive Practices and Dominant Positions, () O No 13,21.2. 1962, p. 204/62. () OJ No 127, 20. 8. 1963, p. 2268/63. (1 (2) Whereas: I. THE FACTS The relevant products The products which are the subject of this Decision are hydrogen peroxide and its deri- vatives sodium perborate and persulphates. Together with other products which are not the subject of this decision (organic and inor- ganic peroxides), these collectively form the ‘peroxygen’ sector. Hydrogen pcroxide, the basic product, is a powerful oxidant and besides its important captive use (for the production of sodium perborate and other derivatives) it is used in the paper, textile and chemical industries as a bleach and for the treatment of waste. Sodium perborate, the principal downstream product, is used as a bleaching agent in synthetic detergents and washing powders. Persulphates are inorganic compounds used primarily as polymerization initiators in the plastics industry. The parties The undertakings which participated in the agreements and/or concerted practices con- cerned in the present decision are: — Solvay et Cie, Brussels (Solvay), — Laporte Industries (Holdings) PLC, Lon- don (Laporte),