CCCS and Competition Bureau Canada Sign MoU on Cooperation of Competition and Consumer Protection Laws

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1.          Chief Executive of the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”), Mr. Toh Han Li, and Commissioner of the Competition Bureau Canada (“CBC”)^[1], Mr. Matthew Boswell have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) to facilitate cooperation between CCCS and CBC in the enforcement of their respective national competition and consumer protection laws.

2.         This is the first MoU between CCCS and an overseas enforcement agency that covers both competition and consumer protection laws^[2]. The MoU will formalise and reinforce existing cooperation and technical assistance activities between the two agencies, including areas such as case notification, enforcement coordination, information exchange as well as technical cooperation and experience sharing.

3.         Chief Executive, CCCS, Mr. Toh Han Li said,

“CCCS values the excellent relationship that we have built up with CBC over the years. This MoU signifies the deep partnership that both agencies have established through numerous collaborations and reflects our shared commitment to continue working together to foster capacity building efforts, and increase the effectiveness of enforcing competition and consumer protection laws, particularly in relation to cross-border cases involving both countries. Such collaboration with international counterparts strengthens CCCS’s capabilities to handle a broader spectrum of competition and consumer protection cases, so as to make markets work well in Singapore.”

4.         A copy of the MoU is available on CCCS’s website.

[1] The CBC is an independent law enforcement agency in Canada responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (except as it relates to food), the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act. For more information, visit www.competitionbureau.gc.ca

[2] CCCS previously entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Japan Fair Trade Commission on 22 June 2017 and a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia’s Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition on 30 August 2018. Both agreements focus on competition law enforcement and do not cover consumer protection.

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About The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”) is a statutory board of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. CCCS administers and enforces the Competition Act (Cap. 50B) which empowers CCCS to investigate and adjudicate anti-competitive activities, issue directions to stop and/or prevent anti-competitive activities and impose financial penalties. CCCS is also the administering agency of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (Cap. 52A) or CPFTA which protects consumers against unfair trade practices in Singapore. Our mission is to make markets work well to create opportunities and choices for business and consumers in Singapore.

For more information, please visit www.cccs.gov.sg.