Madrid, October 3, 2025 — Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has opened two disciplinary proceedings against the General Council of Official Associations of Dentists and Stomatologists of Spain and the College of Dentists and Stomatologists of the 1st Region (COEM) for failing to comply with binding commitments made in a previous competition case.
The cases concern partial non-compliance with commitments agreed in 2021. In 2019, the CNMC opened an investigation after receiving complaints from two branded dental clinics. The clinics alleged that certain public statements and campaigns by COEM and the General Council could hinder the ability of commercial dental practices to provide their services in the market.
To resolve the case, both organisations offered a set of binding commitments under the CNMC’s settlement mechanism, allowing the early closure of proceedings. These commitments included an obligation to publish the CNMC’s resolution and inform their members about it. They also required the removal of specific advertising campaigns from COEM’s website and social media channels, as well as the neutral management of COEM’s job board.
Both entities were also required to submit reports and certificates to the CNMC to demonstrate compliance with these obligations.
But on 9 July 2025, the CNMC determined that both organisations had failed to fully meet some of their commitments. According to the authority, COEM did not remove two controversial advertising campaigns from its website and failed to submit one of the required reports on the operation of its employment platform.
Meanwhile, the General Council did not send one of the requested reports on its communication activities, nor a certificate confirming that the CNMC resolution had been published on its website.
Source: https://www.cnmc.es/prensa/sancionador-COEM-CGDentistas-20251003?back=news
