European Union regulators have halted their probe into an alleged price-fixing scheme by BASF AG, France’s Arkema SA and other competitors. BASF, the world’s largest producer of chemicals, has been a target in an investigation into the plastics additives industry since 2003, when the case began with coordinated and simultaneous raids of BASF and other companies in the industry located in the EU, U.S., Canada and Japan.

This is the third time that the commission has ended a probe into the chemicals industry in a year. While no reason has been given by the commission for the investigation’s end, it’s likely that the case lacked the evidence it needed (which is what typically spurs the end of an EU probe).

Commentary: Nice to see this dropped. Just because there is an investigation does not always mean that there has been a crime.