PARIS — German fragrance and flavors supplier Symrise has filed an appeal with the Court of Justice of the European Union against the search conducted on behalf of the European Commission between March 7 and 9.

As reported, the world’s 4 major fragrance suppliers — Symrise, Firmenich, Givaudan and IFF — are involved in an antitrust inquiry. In March, the businesses confirmed that they’re a part of an investigation into possible collusion by the European Commission.

“We consider the search to be illegal under several legal points,” Symrise said in a press release on Thursday. “The EU Commission has not sufficiently explained what information it allegedly has that makes it appear possible that Symrise is also involved in transactions that violate antitrust law. The article and purpose of the search can also be not described in sufficient detail. It’s merely a reproduction of general statement.”

Symrise said the Commission now has until July 26 to write down to the ECJ and explain why the search executed was adequate. The Commission has also been asked to elucidate fully its accusations regarding Symrise.

The corporate said the Commission searched various documents between June 21 and 23, with Symrise lawyers present, and that they retained only a “marginal number” of them.

“All other electronic documents viewed were deleted again within the presence of our lawyers,” Symrise said. “We now firmly imagine that Symrise can’t be the goal of the continuing investigations.”

In March, the Commission revealed it had carried out unannounced inspections of the premises of corporations and one association energetic within the fragrance industry in quite a few EU member states. It said it’s trying to search out out if there’s any collusion linked to the provision of fragrance and flavors ingredients.

The commission didn’t release names of corporations under investigation, however the 4 suppliers confirmed they were a part of the raid.

Symrise is the primary of them to initiate an appeal with the Court of Justice.