Four of Unilever's European offices have been raided by antitrust inspectors on suspicion of price-fixing.

The Anglo-Dutch company, the world's third-largest maker of consumer goods and the maker of Persil and Surf, is among several detergent manufacturers that have been raided over the past few days. Procter & Gamble, German group Henkel, the household and body care subsidiary of Sara Lee and Reckitt Benckiser were also visited by antitrust inspectors.

The European Commission said inspectors from its antitrust authority, accompanied by their local counterparts, carried out raids at the offices of several producers of goods such as washing machine and dishwasher detergents and laundry softeners on June 17, 18 and 19.

It said it had reason to believe the companies had violated rules on restrictive business practices and cartels, which prohibit practices such as price-fixing. The Commission has the power to fine companies as much as 10 per cent of global sales, though those found guilty are typically fined 2per cent to 3 per cent of sales.

A spokesman for Unilever said inspectors had visited the group's offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Spain but would not say what the inspection was about.

A spokesman for Sara Lee, based in Utrecht, said: “The Dutch competition authority visited our Dutch headquarters earlier this week. We also had a visit from local authorities in Spain and Italy.”

A Procter & Gamble spokesman said that offices in Belgium, Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic were co-operating with Commission officials. The company said: “P&G is among a number of manufacturers helping the European Commission with its inquiries. It is our policy to fully abide by the spirit and letter of all laws.”

An EU spokesman said: “The fact that the European Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself. There is no strict deadline to complete cartel inquiries.”

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