The Competition Authority has begun proceedings against the Irish Veterinary Union (IVU). It follows an investigation by the Director of Competition and a search of the IVU's Dublin offices earlier this year.

It is understood that when the Authority raided the Union's office it was investigating pricefixing of bovine TB tests. The raid, carried out in February, lasted five hours and officials removed 174 documents relating to the union's fees.

The raid provoked bitter complaints from the IVU at the time. The IVU could not be contacted for comment last night.

The Authority said yesterday that it could not comment further at this stage as the matter was the subject of legal proceedings.