The French Competition Authority has confirmed that it carried out unannounced inspections in the food supplements and dermo-cosmetic products sectors as part of an investigation into suspected anti-competitive practices.
According to a press release published on May 6, 2026, the Authority’s investigation services conducted dawn raids on May 5 after obtaining authorization from a judge overseeing freedoms and detention proceedings. The inspections involved visits and seizures at the premises of companies operating in the two sectors.
The Authority did not disclose the identities of the companies involved, nor did it specify the nature of the suspected conduct under investigation. French competition authorities typically use dawn raids in cases involving serious suspected infringements such as cartels, information exchanges, resale price maintenance, or market-sharing arrangements.
The Authority emphasized that the operation does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation or establish any wrongdoing by the companies concerned. Under French competition law, such inspections represent an early procedural step aimed at gathering evidence. Any finding of infringement would only follow a full investigation and adversarial proceedings.
The food supplements and dermo-cosmetics sectors have experienced strong growth in recent years, driven by rising consumer demand for health, wellness, and skincare products. These markets are characterized by extensive distribution networks involving pharmacies, parapharmacies, online retailers, and specialized distributors, creating potential competition law risks related to pricing policies and distribution agreements.
The announcement reflects the continued enforcement focus of European competition authorities on consumer healthcare and wellness markets. Regulators across Europe have increasingly scrutinized vertical restraints, online sales restrictions, and coordination practices in sectors combining strong brand positioning with selective distribution models.
The French Competition Authority stated that it would not provide further comments at this stage regarding either the targeted practices or the companies visited.
