The importance of the CMA in regulating the medical equipment industry
The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recent decision to close their investigations into the medical equipment sector has raised concerns for many.
Although the competition watchdog didn’t come to a conclusive decision as to whether the medical equipment industry violated competition laws, they did however decide to close the case on ‘priority administrative grounds’.
This doesn’t mean that the industry are not guilty of anti-competitive behaviour though…
Read More
Are loyalty schemes now seen as an anti-competitive practice?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently opened a public inquiry for suspected anti-competitive conduct relating to loyalty schemes.
Although the Gov.uk website doesn’t detail masses of information on the investigation, there’s a suspected breach of UK and EU competition laws in relation to loyalty-inducing practices in consumable goods.
The investigation opened on the 16th February this year. The CMA has allowed a period of time from February to May to gather information, including gathering formal or informal information requests and parties’ responses. The competition watchdog will then have to make a decision in June whether to proceed with the investigation or to close the investigation.
Read More
The Competition and Markets Authority has issued a hefty £2.8 millionfine after two suppliers of products to the furniture industry admitted to anti-competitive behaviour.
The CMA opened their investigation in March last year after two suppliers of drawer wraps and fronts were suspected to be conducting illegal cartel agreements to share the market. As a result of the investigations, fines in the millions have been issued after breaches were identified.
Read More
“Hanging out the dirty laundry” – The cleanroom laundry industry exposed?
The cleanroom industry is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for suspected anti-competitive agreements. If true, they’ll likely be found in breach of competition laws.
Two suppliers of cleanroom laundry services and products – Micronclean Ltd (formerly Fenland Laundries Ltd); and Berendsen Cleanroom Services Ltd (formerly Micronclean (Newbury) Ltd) – are suspected of breaching competition laws by marketing and sharing products, and/or services, under the ‘Micronclean’ brand. The suppliers allegedly divided up customers by geographical ‘territory’ and/or customer type under the agreement.
Read More
Is Formula 1 guilty of anti-competitive practices?
Formula 1 is receiving limelight that it probably isn’t used to.
Members of the European Parliament have given their blessing to the European Commission to undertake an inquiry on Formula 1’s suspected “anti-competitive practices”.
Many spectators are unaware of the happenings ‘behind the scenes’ of the sport; however the investigation launched by the European Commission may shed some light in alleged ‘underground-esque dealings’.
Read More
Are online gambling companies playing a sleight-of-hand?
An inquiry into the gambling industry has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The competition watchdogs are concerned whether the gambling companies are treating their customers fairly.
In an industry as valuable as this, it’s important the CMA investigate any potential infringements that could affect consumers.
Read More
CMA update on the investigation in to the personal and small business banking sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has been investigating the supply of Personal Current Accounts (PCA) and banking services to small and medium sized enterprises on suspicion of anti-competitive behaviour.
The CMA conducted the investigation after complaints and concerns were made over the services retail banks provided. The main areas focused on were:
- Whether there is a weak customer response due to lack of engagement and/or barriers to searching and switching reducing the incentives on banks to compete on price and/or quality and/or to innovate;
- Whether there are barriers to entry and expansion constraining the ability of banks to enter or expand; and
- Whether the level of concentration is having an adverse effect on customers
Nurofen’s producer fined £3.6 million for their misleading marketing
Nurofen’s British producer, Reckitt Benckiser, has been fined 3.6 million pounds after it was found that they had misled customers with Nurofen Specific Pain products.
In December 2015, courts found the pharmaceutical manufacturer to be involved in “misleading conduct” by representing that Nurofen Specific Pain products targeted a specific area.
Read More
CMA investigate care homes for the elderly
The Competition and Markets Authority has recently started a market study into the care homes for the elderly to see how well the market works, and to ensure people are being treated fairly.
Not long ago, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began looking into whether care home providers are treating their residents and representatives in a fair manner. In this study, the CMA is encouraging any interested persons to come forward with any information to help them.
Read More
Monitoring project of anti-competitive pricing in online travel agents sector
Following the closure of the investigation into online travel agents’ pricing practices in the hotel online booking sector in September 2015, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has since continued to monitor the industry closely.
The investigation was first launched in September 2010 where there was a suspected breach of Chapter I of the U.K. competition law (the Competition Act) in the hotel online booking sector. The investigation looked into whether there were restrictions in agreements made between InterContinental Hotels Group and Hotel InterContinental London Limited and each of Booking.com and Expedia.
It was alleged that both Booking.com and Expedia entered into agreements with InterContinental Hotels Group which had the ability of restricting online travel agents to discount price of room-only hotel accommodation.
Read More