FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges of Anticompetitive Conduct Against IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., the largest U.S. supplier of diagnostic testing products used by small animal veterinarians, acted anticompetitively by engaging in exclusive dealing arrangements with all three national distributors and two large regional distributors.  In settling the FTC’s complaint, IDEXX agreed to an order that prohibits it from entering into concurrent exclusive distribution arrangements with all three national distributors of point-of-care diagnostic testing products.  IDEXX now distributes non-exclusively through MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc.

The Commission vote approving the final order and a letter to a member of the public who commented on it was 3-0-2, with Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen abstaining and Commissioner Joshua D. Wright not participating.  (FTC File No. 101-0023; the staff contact is Lisa Kopchik, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-3139; see press release dated December 21, 2012.)

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