BEIJING -- China has opened probes into international packaging giant Tetra Pak over suspicions that it has abused its dominant market role, a senior official said Friday.

Zhang Mao, head of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, said at a meeting that the investigation covered 20 provinces and municipalities.

Tetra Pak, headquartered in Switzerland, is one of the world's largest liquid food packaging suppliers. It was once punished by the European Union for its monopoly.

In China, the company has been repeatedly accused of abusing its dominant market role, triggering the on-site inspection and on-going probes, the administration said.

Tetra Pak entered the China market in 1972, according to its website. It has a research center in Shanghai and packaging materials plants in several Chinese cities.