Pulp price increases, searches for companies and unipi 5

8 hours 26 minutes from La Guardia di Finanza has conducted searches in the headquarters of the five largest Italian producers of pasta and place in dell'Unipi, the Industrial Union Italian pasta makers, in an investigation on rising prices pasta. Continue reading this news was announced by judicial sources. The survey, which sees a suspect, relates to the increases of up to 50% of the price of pulp from 2007 to present. The searches were performed on the basis of probable violation of Article 501 bis of the Penal Code, which punishes the speculation. The companies are searched Barilla (Parma), De Cecco (Pescara and Rome), Divella (Bari), Garofalo (Gragnano, in the province of Naples) and Amato (Salerno). asked by Reuters about the survey, unipi and the companies involved have claimed to be calm and be prepared to cooperate. "As always made in the investigation on the expensive pasta continues to give - with the greatest serenity — cooperation and availability, "said in a statement Massimo Menna, President dell'Unipi. "That said we can not but reiterate that there has never been speculation n is never set up any agreement detrimental to the interests of consumers." Garofalo also reiterated "its full cooperation and availability" and Divella stressed the "full cooperation with the authorities. "De Cecco, said the" serene, "recalls that" in place an appeal to the Council of State against the fine Antitrust companies. Barilla has also assured "full cooperation and availability." In February, the Antitrust Authority has sanctioned 90% of the companies that produce pasta and trade associations with a total fine of just under 12.5 million — the Tar confirmed last October - for what the Authority considers a cartel in pricing. - On site www.reuters.it other news Reuters in Italian. The top news also on www.twitter.com / reuters_italia