Overview

Block exemptions and the de minimis rule will partly overcome the deficiencies of the current mandatory notification regime for restrictive agreements. According to this system, restrictive agreements may only be implemented upon their individual exemption by the Commission from the cartel prohibition.

The New Act provides for block exemptions from the cartel prohibition for different types of restrictive agreements, which will be automatically exempted under certain requirements.

The de minimis rule sets out the circumstances under which potentially anti-competitive agreements are deemed not to restrict competition appreciably and thus fall outside the ambit of the cartel prohibition.

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