Justice Department Discloses Ongoing Probe of Fragrance Giants

The Justice Department revealed that it is still pursuing a criminal investigation into four global fragrance industry players that were separately accused of a price-fixing conspiracy by private plaintiffs more than two years ago.

The DOJ filed a motion to intervene and halt some discovery June 13 in a civil case against defendants Symrise AG, Firmenich International SA, Givaudan SA, and New York-based International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.

“The United States seeks to intervene now because it has become aware of a potential dispute among the parties ...