UK/Ireland: Irish cement importer Eircem has told the UK's Competition Commission that 'there is no free competition' in the cement market in Europe. Managing director Peter Goode submitted the comments as part of the evidence being gathered by the UK Competition Commission in its ongoing investigation on the UK cement industry, as reported by the Irish Independent.

"The most recent act of such practices and anti competitive activity by [European Cement Producer 1] and [European Cement Producer 2] against me, my business and my family is so blatant that it defies reality and logic," said Goode in his submission to the Competition Commission.

Goode alleges that his previous company suffered anti-competitive measures from a European cement producer in 2009 when it attempted to import cement from Turkey. Further claims include an incident on a visit to a UK cement plant in 2012 when an employee of a cement producer refused to supply him with cement because it had a pre-existing agreement with another company not to supply cement to Ireland.

According to the Irish Independent, Goode previously owned Goode Concrete, which collapsed in early 2011. The company is currently attempting to sue Irish building materials manufacturer CRH for damages also related to alleged anti-competitive behaviour.

The Competition Commission's investigation on the UK aggregates, cement and ready-mix concrete market is due to be completed in late 2013 with a publication date set for December 2013. Evidence from the investigation has been published on the Competition Commission website.