L 353/54 Official Journal of the European Union 13.12.2006 COMMISSION DECISION of 3 May 2006 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 of the Treaty establishing the European Community and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement against Akzo Nobel NV, Akzo Nobel Chemicals Holding AB, EKA Chemicals AB, Degussa AG, Edison SpA, FMC Corporation, FMC Foret S.A., Kemira OY]J, L’Air Liquide SA, Chemoxal SA, Snia SpA, Caffaro Srl, Solvay SA/NV, Solvay Solexis SpA, Total SA, EIf Aquitaine SA and Arkema SA. (Case COMP[F/C.38.620 — Hydrogen Peroxide and perborate) (notified under document number C(2006) 1766) (only the English, French and Italian versions are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/903[EC) 1. SUMMARY OF THE INFRINGEMENT (2) 1.1. Addressees (1) The decision is addressed to the following undertakings: Akzo Nobel NV (‘Akzo) Akzo Nobel Chemicals Holding AB (‘ANCHY) EKA Chemicals AB (‘EKA) Degussa AG (Degussa’) Edison SpA (Edison) FMC Corporation (FMC) EMC Foret S.A. (Foret) Kemira OY] (Kemira’) L'Air Liquide SA (‘Air Liquide)) Chemoxal SA (‘Chemoxal’) Snia SpA (‘Snia’) Caffaro Srl (‘Caffaro’) Solvay SA/NV (‘Solvay’) Solvay Solexis SpA (‘Solexis’) Total SA (‘Total) Elf Aquitaine SA (Elf Aquitaine’) Arkema SA (‘Atofina’). The addressees of the Decision participated in a single and continuous infringement of Article 81 of the Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement regarding hydrogen peroxide (HP) and its downstream product sodium perborate (PBS’), covering the whole EEA territory (‘the infringement’). The period of infringement retained in the decision is from 31 January 1994 to 31 December 2000. The infringement consisted mainly of competitors exchan- ging commercially important and confidential market- and| or company relevant information, limiting and/or control- ling production as well as potential and actual capacities, allocating market shares and customers, and fixing and monitoring (target) prices. 1.2. The hydrogen peroxide and perborate sector HP is a strong oxidising agent which has several industrial applications. It is a clear, colourless liquid which is available commercially as an aqueous solution in concentrations mainly ranging from 30 % to 70 %. As a final product HP is used as a bleaching agent in the pulp and paper manufacturing industries, for the bleaching of textiles, for disinfection and for other environmental applications such as sewage treatment. HP is also used as a raw material for the production of other downstream peroxigen products, such as persalts (which include PBS) and peracetic acid. PBS is mainly used, as well as sodium percarbonate (PCS’), as an active substance in synthetic detergents and washing powders. PBS and PCS have been both investigated in the current proceedings, however following the replies to the Statement of Objections and arguments presented at the Oral Hearing, it cannot be established that the infringing behaviour extended to PCS as well. The decision therefore only covers infringing behaviour as regards HP and PBS, not as regards PCS, despite to the Statement of Objections which also regarded PCS.