The DGCCRF announced this Tuesday that it had processed 138 sanctioning administrative files for a total amount of about 13.8 million euros in the first half of 2022 for non-compliance with payment deadlines by companies, a number of infractions higher than 2021 although the accumulated sum decreases.
“These procedures consist of 75 sanctioning resolutions already notified to the inspected companies (for a total amount of fines close to 9.5 million euros) and 63 sanctioning procedures in progress (for an amount, not yet final, of more than 4 .3 million euros) “, details in a press release the Repression of fraud, specifying that these controls were carried out in 2021.
A year earlier, the DGCCRF had collected 16.3 million through 95 procedures, on checks carried out in 2020.
To explain this difference, the institution indicates that due to the Covid-19 that weakened the companies as of March 2020, it was conciliatory with the offending companies.
The large companies targeted
Some sanctions already announced this winter are particularly harsh, such as that of the Heineken brewer (1.8 million euros) or the pharmaceutical group Ipsen Pharma (1.29 million euros).
In the coming months, the DGCCRF announces that it will focus its efforts on large and medium-sized companies, in particular those that have benefited until June 20 from a loan guaranteed by the State within the framework of economic aid measures linked to Covid and that has not yet been verified.
The Repression of fraud also indicates to be especially attentive to “tensions in the road freight transport sector”.
Since 2009, the law has limited contractual payment terms between companies, which cannot exceed 60 days from the date of the invoice, or 45 days from the end of the month, even if “specific terms are provided for certain products or services”. “, according to the instance.
Fine of up to 2 million euros
The fines, increased in 2016, can reach up to 2 million euros for a legal person and 75,000 for a natural person. They can be duplicated in case of recurrence within two years.
In June, the Observatory of payment terms recalled that only 41% of companies, including 75% of SMEs, paid their invoices on time.
Since the entry into force of the administrative sanctions in 2014, a total of 1,579 companies have been notified by the DGCCRF, for an accumulated fine of 126 million euros, recalls the press release.
Source: BFM TV
