Duesseldorf, Germany, Aug 15 - German anti-trust officials are examining a jump in milk prices on suspicion of possible price-fixing, the Federal Cartel Office said on Wednesday.
Investigators examined documents on Wednesday at the Milk Industry Assocation (MIV) and the ZMP centre for argicultural price reporting, a spokesman for the agency said.
He said the bureau had not opened a formal investigation but was rather trying to "clarify facts" because the two groups were expected to have information about price rises early this month.
Prices for milk and other dairy products rose across the board from the end of July, with butter prices up by half, the cartel office said, noting increases had even been announced in advance.
The authorities have not ruled out prospects that milk producers and distributors had agreed on price hikes, he said, adding: "Such a step would violate cartel law."