Greece fines local branches of J&J, Colgate-Palmolive for alleged breaching of profit cap

Greek authorities on Wednesday announced fines totaling 1.67 million euros ($1.81 million) on the local branches of two US-based health care and consumer products giants for alleged breaches of a profit cap imposed amid Greece's cost-of-living crisis.

The Development Ministry said Johnson & Johnson Hellas was fined 1 million euros and Colgate-Palmolive Hellas 672,000 euros. It didn't provide further details on the alleged breaches.

The fines were imposed under a law adopted in July that caps gross profits for a broad range of key consumer goods and services — mostly in the food and health sectors — until the end of 2023. The law stipulates that the gross profit per unit cannot exceed that from before Dec. 31, 2021.

Successive polls have identified the cost-of-living crisis, largely triggered by the war in Ukraine, as a major concern for most Greeks, with the...