Competition - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - Plastic industrial bags sector - Decision finding an infringement of Article 81 EC - Fines - Limitation period - Proof of the infringement.

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 16 November 2011 – Stempher and Koninklijke Verpakkingsindustrie Stempher v Commission (Case T-68/06) Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – Plastic industrial bags sector – Decision finding an infringement of Article 81 EC – Fines – Limitation period – Proof of the infringement 1.                     Competition – Administrative procedure – Commission decision finding an infringement – Burden of proving the infringement and its duration on the Commission – Extent of the burden of proof (Art. 81(1) EC) (see paras 25-26) 2.                     Competition – Administrative procedure – Time-limit with regard to proceedings – Consequences (Art. 81(1) EC; Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 25) (see para. 42) Re: APPLICATION for annulment in part and for amendment of Commission Decision C(2005) 4634 final of 30 November 2005 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] (Case COMP/F/38.354 – Industrial bags). Operative part The Court: 1. Annuls Commission Decision C(2005) 4634 final of 30 November 2005 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] (Case COMP/F/38.354 – Industrial bags) in so far as it concerns Stempher BV and Koninklijke Verpakkingsindustrie Stempher CV; 2. Orders the European Commission to pay the costs.