Who was sanctioned, and for what?

Following its 2020 guilty plea, the opioid manufacturer was sentenced in Newark to a criminal fine of 3.544 billion USD (asserted in the insolvency proceedings) and forfeiture of 2 billion USD; up to 1.775 billion USD can be credited against the forfeiture if Purdue emerges from insolvency as a public benefit company. Purdue had deceived the DEA and paid kickbacks to prescribers via its speaker programme and to an electronic health records platform in order to increase opioid prescriptions.

Authority / court

U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey (Anklage: U.S. Department of Justice)

Area of law

Bribery and corruption · Gifts, hospitality and benefits

Legal basis

Verschwörung zum Betrug der USA und zur Verletzung des Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; zwei Fälle Verschwörung zur Verletzung des Anti-Kickback Statute (Schuldbekenntnis vom 24.11.2020)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Culpability

intentional

Original amount 5,544,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 28 Apr 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

From 2018 to 2021, the pharmaceutical manufacturer allegedly used two patient assistance foundations to fund Medicare beneficiaries’ co-payments for its drug Oxervate in order to promote its sales. Following a self-disclosure, Dompé paid 32 million USD.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Justice / U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

Area of law

Bribery and corruption · Gifts, hospitality and benefits

Legal basis

Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)); False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 ff.)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Mitigating circumstances

Self-disclosure.

Original amount 32,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 10 Sep 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

Between February 2018 and September 2019, five leaks of highly flammable hydrocarbons occurred at the Mossmorran major hazard site (COMAH upper tier), all caused by corrosion under insulation; around 82 tonnes escaped in one leak. During a routine inspection in May 2019, inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) smelled escaping gas – the company had known about this leak for around four months and had continued production without additional precautions. The inspection arrangements for insulated pipework were inadequate; fine of 267,000 GBP.

Authority / court

Health and Safety Executive (Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court)

Area of law

Health and safety and employment law · Workplace safety and accidents

Legal basis

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, reg. 6(2); Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s. 33(1)(c)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

10,000 or more

Published

26 Aug 2026

Original amount 267,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 25 Aug 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

Henkel wanted to buy the construction adhesive brand Liquid Nails for 725 million USD from the financial investor American Industrial Partners, thereby taking over the main competitor of its Loctite brand. After a seven-day trial, the federal court, on application by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), issued a permanent injunction against the acquisition.

Authority / court

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (auf Antrag der FTC)

Area of law

Competition law · Merger control

Legal basis

Section 7 Clayton Act; Section 13(b) FTC Act (Permanent Injunction)

Action

Order

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

10,000 or more

Published

17 Aug 2026

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

From 2016 to 2023, Veloxis provided transplant professionals with expensive meals and alcohol, trips and stays at luxury resorts, gifts and consultancy fees without consideration, and paid specialty pharmacies concealed remuneration in order to promote prescriptions and purchases of the immunosuppressant Envarsus XR. The company entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with a criminal payment of more than 10 million USD, is paying 34.45 million USD under civil law (21,211,251 USD to the federal government, 13,238,749 USD to states) and a penalty of 1.55 million USD under the Sunshine Act (Open Payments) – the highest to date – totalling over 46 million USD.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Justice / U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

Area of law

Bribery and corruption · Gifts, hospitality and benefits

Legal basis

Anti-Kickback Statute; False Claims Act; Physician Payments Sunshine Act (Open Payments)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

The U.S. Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) listed the manufacturer of cephalosporin antibiotics because it sources antibiotic intermediates from Yili Chuanning Biotechnology in Xinjiang. The company's goods are therefore presumed to have been produced with forced labour on import into the US unless the importer rebuts this.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force)

Area of law

Supply chain and human rights · Forced and child labour

Legal basis

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v)

Action

Order

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Published

3 Aug 2026

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

Between January 2019 and March 2023, the pharmaceutical manufacturer allegedly paid kickbacks to ambulatory surgery centres to induce them to purchase and use the injectable drug DEXYCU for cataract surgery. To resolve the False Claims Act allegations, EyePoint paid 4,657,463.18 USD and entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with HHS-OIG.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Justice

Area of law

Bribery and corruption · Commercial bribery

Legal basis

Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)); False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 ff.)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Original amount 4,657,463.18 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 20 Jul 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

The EPA, the US Department of Justice and West Virginia's environmental agency reached a settlement (consent decree) with Chemours over PFAS discharges into the Cape Fear, Delaware and Ohio rivers, some made without and some in breach of discharge permits, together with TSCA and RCRA violations at four plants. Chemours will pay a civil penalty of 22,500,000 USD in three annual instalments of 7,500,000 USD and carry out remedial measures, including drinking water supply, PFAS controls and a USD 90m mitigation programme, which the EPA puts at over USD 450m in total. The settlement was lodged with the court on 24 June 2026 and is subject to public comment and court approval. The authority allegedly made the findings set out here; this account is not based on a final judgment. The decision is not final.

Authority / court

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) / U.S. Department of Justice mit West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Clean Water Act (NPDES); Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

not yet final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Mitigating circumstances

The civil penalty was set on the basis of the company's ability to pay.

Published

24 Jun 2026

Original amount 22,500,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 24 Jun 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

The EPA (Region 6) issued a Consent Agreement and Final Order against Denka Performance Elastomer over RCRA violations at its neoprene plant in LaPlace (Louisiana): missing waste determinations, breaches of land disposal restrictions and treatment and storage of hazardous waste without a permit. Denka will pay 996,703.35 USD and must clean out a brine pit and its ancillary equipment; if the currently idle plant resumes operations, further requirements apply, including on waste inventory, containers, training and protective equipment. The authority allegedly made the findings set out here; this account is not based on a final judgment.

Authority / court

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 6

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Waste and hazardous substances

Legal basis

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Docket RCRA-06-2025-0910

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Repeat case

yes

Published

2 Jul 2026

Original amount 996,703.35 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 23 Jun 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

From 2014 to 2020, Takeda allegedly selected physicians specifically for its speaker programme for the antidepressant Trintellix and provided them with fees and meals at expensive restaurants to promote prescriptions; some participants attended the same event several times without any educational benefit. Takeda paid 13,670,921 USD.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Justice / U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California

Area of law

Bribery and corruption · Gifts, hospitality and benefits

Legal basis

Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)); False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 ff.)

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

10,000 or more

Original amount 13,670,921 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 14 May 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

Pyrolysis oil leaked twice at the Lavéra petrochemical site in Martigues: around 50 tonnes in July 2018 through a failed seal into the Anse d'Auguette, part of which reached the sea, and around one tonne in April 2022 through a corroded seawater pipe, of which some 500 kg reached the Anse d'Auguette. Naphtachimie therefore concluded an environmental CJIP (convention judiciaire d'intérêt public, French deferred prosecution agreement) with the Marseille public prosecutor; it pays a public interest fine of 1,200,000 EUR, compensates two environmental associations and will trial, at its own expense, a biological clean-up of the Anse d'Auguette; validated on 13 May 2026.

Authority / court

Parquet de Marseille (Procureur de la République); Validierung durch den Präsidenten des Tribunal judiciaire de Marseille

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Art. 41-1-3 Code de procédure pénale (pollution des eaux)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Published

26 May 2026

Checked against the official source on 2 Oct 2026 · Direct link

In 2019, an employee stepped into a puddle of caustic soda; his safety boots offered no protection, and his leg had to be amputated below the knee. In 2022, another worker suffered chemical burns during manual decanting. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found leaking pipes and valves, a lack of maintenance, no risk assessment for decanting and untested safety footwear; fine of 3.8 million GBP plus 124,748 GBP in costs. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2024, the company had around 469 employees.

Authority / court

Health and Safety Executive (Southwark Crown Court)

Area of law

Health and safety and employment law · Workplace safety and accidents

Legal basis

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, reg. 7(1)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

250 to 999

Published

24 Apr 2026

Original amount 3,800,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 21 Apr 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

While flange bolts were being removed from a steam trap in November 2023, a corroded isolation valve failed and high-pressure steam escaped; the contractor's fitter narrowly escaped serious injury. The agrochemicals group had not maintained work equipment and had not assessed the risk despite known corrosion (only single instead of double isolation). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution resulted in a fine of 400,000 GBP plus 8,288 GBP in costs.

Authority / court

Health and Safety Executive (Leeds Magistrates' Court)

Area of law

Health and safety and employment law · Workplace safety and accidents

Legal basis

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, reg. 5(1); Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg. 3(1)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

10,000 or more

Published

28 Jan 2026

Original amount 400,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 28 Jan 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

A routine inspection in 2023 found that the company was selling eyeliners containing the PFAS substance perfluorononyl dimethicone without submitting the required notification of a ‘significant new activity’; a subsequent compliance order was not complied with. The court imposed 750,000 CAD; the company must inform its shareholders and is listed in the Environmental Offenders Registry.

Authority / court

Ontario Court of Justice (Ermittlungen: Environment and Climate Change Canada)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Waste and hazardous substances

Legal basis

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Significant New Activity, Compliance Order)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Published

2 Feb 2026

Original amount 750,000 CAD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 13 Jan 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

In 2019, as a result of an equipment defect, sodium chlorite entered the Rivière du Lièvre twelve times from the ERCO Mondial chemical plant in Gatineau; in the last incident, the authorities were only informed after five days. The company was fined 1.35 million CAD.

Authority / court

Court of Québec (Ermittlungen: Environment and Climate Change Canada)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Waste and hazardous substances

Legal basis

Fisheries Act (Einbringen schädlicher Stoffe; unterlassene sofortige Meldung)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Published

8 Jan 2026

Original amount 1,350,000 CAD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 7 Jan 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

At the Wigton plant in 2021 an employee collapsed in a pump room after exposure to gas and died; a delivery driver who tried to help also lost consciousness. According to the investigation, the cellulose film manufacturer had not assessed that hydrogen sulphide from the production process could enter the drainage system and be released there; fine of 200,000 GBP plus 20,000 GBP in costs. According to its 2025 annual accounts, the company had an average of 283 employees.

Authority / court

Warrington Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Health and Safety Executive)

Area of law

Health and safety and employment law · Workplace safety and accidents

Legal basis

Section 2(1) und 3(1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

250 to 999

Published

8 Jan 2026

Original amount 200,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 6 Jan 2026.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link

Following a loss of steam in April 2019, the ethylene plant in Fife flared for almost a week; the smoke significantly exceeded permit limits, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) received over 900 complaints. Existing procedures and emergency plans should have prevented the incident but were not adequately followed. The company pleaded guilty and was fined 176,000 GBP.

Authority / court

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court (Ermittlungen: Scottish Environment Protection Agency, SEPA)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Regulation 67(1)(b) Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012; Section 2 Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

10,000 or more

Culpability

negligent

Published

28 Oct 2025

Original amount 176,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 28 Oct 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

In 2022, the Moscow office of the British subsidiary made payments – mainly salaries – to accounts at Alfa-Bank, Promsvyazbank, Sberbank and VTB; after deduction of payments covered by a general licence, around 128,300 GBP remained in breach. The approval process in the UK checked only the amount and the recipient, not the bank; because of a four-month delay in reporting, HM Treasury's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) granted only a 35% instead of a 50% reduction. According to the annual accounts filed with the UK companies register for financial year 2025, the company had around 280 employees.

Authority / court

HM Treasury, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes

Legal basis

Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, reg. 12

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Employees

250 to 999

Mitigating circumstances

Disclosure and full cooperation, but delayed

Published

30 Sep 2025

Original amount 152,750 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 10 Sep 2025.

Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link

P&G Japan advertised its 'Febreze bathroom anti-mould' product (ファブリーズ お風呂用防カビ剤), among other things on the packaging from April 2022 to May 2023, by claiming that simply placing it in the bathroom would prevent black mould for around six weeks. The documents submitted did not substantiate this effect, so the advertising was deemed misleading; the order required a corrective notice, measures to prevent recurrence and cessation.

Authority / court

Consumer Affairs Agency (消費者庁, CAA)

Area of law

Consumer protection and online retail · Misleading advertising and pricing

Legal basis

Art. 7 Abs. 1 und 2 i. V. m. Art. 5 Nr. 1 Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations (不当景品類及び不当表示防止法, Gesetz Nr. 134/1962)

Action

Order

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Published

1 Aug 2025

Checked against the official source on 4 Oct 2026 · Direct link

In consignment agreements, the pharmaceutical wholesaler had made payment to suppliers of food supplements dependent on subsequent resale (payment period over 30 days) and had reserved the right to hold suppliers liable for spoiled goods. The Konkurentsiamet (Estonian Competition Authority) found infringements of the act on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain and ordered amended contractual terms.

Authority / court

Konkurentsiamet (Estnische Wettbewerbsbehörde)

Area of law

Competition law · Abuse of market power

Legal basis

§ 4 Abs. 1 und 2, § 5 Abs. 2, § 7 Abs. 1 PTEKS (UTP-Richtlinie (EU) 2019/633)

Action

Order

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link