Introduction:
Welcome to our Consultation Newsletter, where we provide a comprehensive overview of the latest consultations in the rapidly evolving field of Competition and Antitrust. Focused on G-20 countries, these consultations reflect the ongoing efforts by regulatory bodies to shape the future of these critical areas. Staying informed about these developments is crucial for businesses to remain compliant and competitive. In this issue, we delve into the most significant consultations from Q2 2024, highlighting their focus, operational impacts, and compliance requirements.
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Australia – Recruitment Association Conduct Regime:
- Regulatory Body: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
- Focus: Authorising recruitment association’s professional conduct regime
- Deadline: May 10, 2024
- Operational Impact: Recruitment agencies may need to revise their professional conduct policies.
- Compliance: Ensuring compliance with the ACCC’s authorised conduct regime will be necessary.
- Link: ACCC Recruitment Conduct Regime
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Canada – Airlines Industry Competition:
- Regulatory Body: Competition Bureau
- Focus: Study on competition in Canada’s airlines industry
- Deadline: June 17, 2024
- Operational Impact: Airlines may face increased scrutiny and potential changes in competition policies.
- Compliance: Airlines will need to ensure compliance with any new competition rules.
- Link: Canada Competition Bureau News
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European Union – Agricultural Sector State Aid:
- Regulatory Body: European Commission
- Focus: Draft targeted amendments to rules on small amounts of State aid in the agricultural sector
- Deadline: July 21, 2024
- Operational Impact: Agricultural businesses may need to adjust their financial strategies to align with new State aid rules.
- Compliance: Businesses will have to ensure their aid applications meet the revised criteria.
- Link: European Commission Press Release
European Union – Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation:
- Regulatory Body: European Commission
- Focus: Evaluation of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation
- Deadline: June 24, 2024
- Operational Impact: Automotive manufacturers and dealers may need to adapt to changes in competition rules.
- Compliance: Compliance strategies must be reviewed in light of potential regulation amendments.
- Link: Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation Evaluation
European Union – Vifor Iron Medicine:
- Regulatory Body: European Commission
- Focus: Commitments offered by Vifor over possible anticompetitive disparagement of iron medicine
- Deadline: May 19, 2024
- Operational Impact: Pharmaceutical companies may need to review their competitive practices.
- Compliance: Compliance with new commitments to avoid anticompetitive practices will be essential.
- Link: Vifor Iron Medicine Consultation
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France – Rating Systems:
- Regulatory Body: Autorité de la Concurrence
- Focus: Public consultation on rating systems as part of the preparation of an opinion
- Deadline: May 15, 2024
- Operational Impact: Companies using rating systems may need to revise their methodologies.
- Compliance: Ensuring rating systems comply with new guidelines will be necessary.
- Link: Rating Systems Consultation
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Italy – Audiovisual Rights of Women’s Serie A Championship:
- Regulatory Body: Italian Competition Authority (AGCM)
- Focus: Guidelines for marketing audiovisual rights of the Women’s Serie A Championship
- Deadline: May 13, 2024
- Operational Impact: Sports and media companies will need to align their marketing strategies with new guidelines.
- Compliance: Compliance with the new marketing guidelines will be crucial.
- Link: Audiovisual Rights Guidelines
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Japan – Contracts with Performers:
- Regulatory Body: Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC)
- Focus: Information provision form regarding contracts between performers and their agencies
- Deadline: Not specified
- Operational Impact: Agencies and performers must update contract practices to align with new information provision forms.
- Compliance: Ensuring contracts comply with JFTC guidelines will be crucial.
- Link: JFTC Performers Contracts Consultation
Japan – Specified Contracted Business Operators:
- Regulatory Body: Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC)
- Focus: Enforcement Order (Draft) of the Act on the Appropriation of Transactions Related to Specified Contracted Business Operators
- Deadline: May 11, 2024
- Operational Impact: Businesses must adapt to new enforcement orders affecting their transactions.
- Compliance: Adhering to the new enforcement order will be essential.
- Link: Specified Contracted Business Operators Consultation
Japan – Subcontract Payment Act:
- Regulatory Body: Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC)
- Focus: Draft revision of the “Operation Standards for the Act on Prevention of Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds, etc.”
- Deadline: April 30, 2024
- Operational Impact: Subcontractors and contractors will need to adjust payment practices.
- Compliance: Adhering to revised operation standards will be crucial to avoid delays in payments.
- Link: Subcontract Payment Act Consultation
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United Kingdom – Transparency and Disclosure:
- Regulatory Body: Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
- Focus: Updated version of transparency and disclosure policy (CMA6)
- Deadline: June 24, 2024
- Operational Impact: Companies may need to increase transparency in their operations and disclosures.
- Compliance: Businesses will have to align with the updated CMA policies.
- Link: CMA Transparency and Disclosure Consultation
United Kingdom – Digital Markets Competition:
- Regulatory Body: Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
- Focus: Draft guidance for the digital markets competition regime
- Deadline: July 12, 2024
- Operational Impact: Digital market players may face new competition rules impacting their business models.
- Compliance: Compliance strategies will need to be updated to meet new digital market guidelines.
- Link: Digital Markets Competition Regime Guidance
United Kingdom – Meta’s Use of Advertising Data:
- Regulatory Body: Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
- Focus: Proposed variation to the commitments regarding Meta’s use of advertising data
- Deadline: June 14, 2024
- Operational Impact: Companies utilizing advertising data may need to revise their data practices.
- Compliance: Compliance with new commitments will be essential to avoid penalties.
- Link: Meta’s Advertising Data Commitments
United Kingdom – Public Transport Ticketing Schemes:
- Regulatory Body: Department for Transport
- Focus: Call for inputs on Public Transport Ticketing Schemes Block Exemption
- Deadline: May 24, 2024
- Operational Impact: Public transport operators may need to update their ticketing schemes.
- Compliance: Aligning with new block exemption criteria will be necessary.
- Link: Public Transport Ticketing Schemes Consultation
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United States – Serial Acquisitions and Roll-Up Strategies:
- Regulatory Body: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division
- Focus: Information on serial acquisitions and roll-up strategies across the U.S. economy
- Deadline: July 22, 2024
- Operational Impact: Companies engaging in acquisitions may face increased regulatory scrutiny.
- Compliance: Businesses must ensure their acquisition strategies comply with antitrust laws.
- Link: FTC and DOJ Serial Acquisitions Consultation
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Conclusion:
The array of competition consultations launched in Q2 2024 across G-20 economies underscores the importance of proactive adaptation to regulatory changes. This newsletter provides a snapshot of the current consultation landscape, helping you understand the implications and necessary compliance measures for your business. Engaging with these consultations not only ensures you stay ahead of potential regulatory shifts but also positions your business to influence the development of policies that will shape the industry. Stay tuned for more updates and insights in our subsequent issues as we continue to track and analyze developments in these critical areas.
