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CCS Revises Guidelines to Foster a Level Playing Field for Businesses
1 November 2016
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(View Media Release in PDF)
Competition law strives to foster a level playing field amongst businesses by promoting a vibrant market place through innovation and productivity, so as to create opportunities and choices for businesses and consumers in Singapore.
The Competition Commission of Singapore (“CCS”) issued its first set of Guidelines in 2007. The Guidelines outline how CCS will administer and enforce the provisions under the Competition Act and the current set of revised Guidelines reflects the first comprehensive revision to the Guidelines since then, taking into account 10 years of experience and enforcement by CCS.
CCS has completed the review of its Guidelines and the public consultation on the proposed changes to the Guidelines. The revised Guidelines, which take into account international best practices, will make it easier for businesses, consumers and other stakeholders to understand how CCS will administer and enforce the Competition Act.
Having reviewed the comments received from the consultation, CCS has revised and published the following Guidelines (collectively, the “revised Guidelines”) which will come into effect on 1 December 2016:
CCS Guidelines on the Substantive Assessment of Mergers 2016;
CCS Guidelines on Lenient Treatment for Undertakings Coming Forward with Information on Cartel Activity 2016;
CCS Guidelines on the Section 34 Prohibition 2016[1];
CCS Guidelines on the Section 47 Prohibition 2016[2];
CCS Guidelines on Filing Notifications for Guidance or Decision with respect to the Section 34 Prohibition and Section 47 Prohibition 2016;
CCS Guidelines on the Appropriate Amount of Penalty 2016;
CCS Guidelines on the Powers of Investigation 2016;
CCS Guidelines on Enforcement 2016; and
CCS Guidelines on the Major Prohibitions 2016.
In addition, CCS has introduced a new procedure called the Fast Track Procedure, which is detailed in the Practice Statement on Fast Track Procedure for Section 34 and Section 47 Cases.
The key benefits for businesses brought about by the revision are:
New Fast Track Procedure for shorter and faster investigation process: The new Fast Track Procedure allows businesses under investigation to enter into an agreement with CCS where they will admit their liability early by acknowledging their participation in an anti-competitive activity. In return, they will receive a reduction on the financial penalty to be imposed. The purpose of introducing this Fast Track Procedure is to allow, in appropriate cases, for CCS to increase the efficiency of its investigation and enforcement process, thereby shortening the time taken to issue a decision.
More clarity and guidance on how CCS will calculate financial penalties: One of the key amendments is to calculate the financial penalty based on the financial year preceding the date when the undertaking’s participation in the infringement ended, rather than basing it on the financial year preceding the issuance of CCS’s decision. This provides greater certainty to businesses under investigation as the relevant financial year will no longer depend on when CCS issues its decision. The quantum of the financial penalty would therefore be more proportionate to the turnover earned by parties when they had engaged in the infringing conduct.
Processes simplified to save businesses time: Changes have been made to the Guidelines to simplify processes and clarify CCS’s approach in assessing various conduct. This includes the simplification of various notification forms and procedures. Businesses will also know upfront what to expect and what will be required by CCS during the investigation process.
From the public consultation, CCS received a total of 14 submissions from law firms, the business community, academia, professional consultancies, bar associations, government departments as well as members of the public. The feedback was largely supportive of the changes. More details can be found in the summary of the feedback which also contains CCS’s responses on the feedback received (“Summary of Feedback and CCS’s Responses”).
The revised Guidelines and Fast Track Procedure will come into effect on 1 December 2016. This is to give businesses and other stakeholders time to familiarize themselves with the revised Guidelines. The Summary of Feedback and CCS’s Responses and more details on the revised Guidelines, including a summary of the key changes[3] which are detailed in the public consultation documents, are available on the CCS website.
[1] Section 34 of the Competition Act prohibits agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings or concerted practices which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within Singapore.
[2] Section 47 of the Competition Act prohibits any conduct on the part of one or more undertakings, which is an abuse of a dominant position, in any market in Singapore.
[3] Refer also to Annex A for an outline of the key changes.
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About The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS)
CCS is a statutory board established under the Competition Act (Chapter 50B) on 1 January 2005 to administer and enforce the Act. It comes under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Act empowers CCS to investigate alleged anti-competitive activities, determine if such activities infringe the Act and impose suitable remedies, directions and financial penalties. For more information, please visit www.ccs.gov.sg.
For media clarifications, please contact:
Ms. Loy Pwee Inn
Senior Assistant Director
International and Strategic Planning Division
Competition Commission of Singapore
Email: loy_pwee_inn@ccs.gov.sg
DID: 6325 8313
Ms. Grace Suen
Assistant Director
International & Strategic Planning Division
Competition Commission of Singapore
Email: grace_suen@ccs.gov.sg
DID: 6325 8216 / 9835 8601
Annex A: Summary of Key Changes
Title of Document | Key Changes |
Guidelines on the Substantive Assessment of Mergers |
|
Guidelines on Lenient Treatment for Undertakings coming forward with information on Cartel Activity |
|
Guidelines on section 34 prohibition |
|
Guidelines on section 47 prohibition |
|
Guidelines on filing notifications for guidance or decision with respect to section 34 and section 47 prohibitions |
|
Guidelines on the appropriate amount of penalty; Guidelines on the powers of Investigations and Guidelines on Enforcement |
|
Practice Statement on Fast Track Procedure for section 34 and section 47 cases (New procedure) |
|