The European Commission fined the Ordre National des Pharmaciens (ONP) €5m for imposing minimum prices on the French market for clinical laboratory tests and hindering the development of laboratories. The ONP is a professional trade association responsible for the professional supervision of pharmacists and clinical laboratories. An investigation was launched following a complaint by the LABCO group in 2007. This uncovered measures by the ONP aimed at slowing down acquisitions, statutory changes and changes in the capital of groups of laboratories. It also appears that the ONP intervened to limit the level of discounts for certain state hospitals and health insurance bodies. According to the Commission, from 2004-2007, the price of clinical laboratory testing services in France were up to two to three times higher than in other Member States.