Competition Act and cartels
Here you can find information on the Competition Act and how to comply with the law. You can also find out what constitutes a cartel and how a business could be granted immunity from fines and individuals avoid prosecution (through the OFT's leniency programme) if they inform the OFT of their involvement in anti-competitive activity.
This section also provides information about Competition Act related investigations, decisions, consultations and case closure summaries (where cases are in the public domain).
Work areas
Leniency, cartels and competition law compliance
Competition law compliance
The OFT has published guidance on competition law compliance. This includes specific advice for directors, general guidance for all businesses, a quick guide to competition law compliance and a short film.
Leniency
There are severe penalties for individuals and businesses that engage in cartels - and every incentive for those individuals and businesses to stop such practices and tell the OFT about the cartel.
Cartels Hotline - complain to the OFT about a cartel
The OFT urges any person with information on cartels or price fixing to telephone the Cartels Hotline on 0800 0851664 or email cartelshotline@oft.gsi.gov.uk in strictest confidence.
Rewards for information about cartels
The OFT offers financial rewards of up to £100,000 (in exceptional circumstances) for information about cartel activity. You will find it useful to read the guidance set out here.
The law and guidance
Competition Act 1998 guidance
Competition Act 1998 and Civil Cartel cases
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Current Competition Act 1998 and civil cartel cases
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Complete Competition Act 1998 cases:
- Case closure summaries
- CA98 Public Register - decisions
- CA98 Public Register - consultations
Cartels guidance
Criminal cartels casesEnterprise Act 2002 Guidance
Procedural adjudicator trial
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The OFT commenced a one-year trial of a Procedural Adjudicator role on 21 March 2011.
Latest news
- OFT issues statement of objections to certain pharmaceutical companies (19 April 2013)
- OFT issues five infringement decisions in the distribution of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles investigation (27 March 2013)
- Mercedes-Benz and three commercial vehicle dealers to pay £2.6 million for breaching competition law (21 February 2013)
CA98 guidance
Short-form Opinions
The Short-form Opinion provides guidance to businesses and their advisers on the application of competition law.
Further information on Short-form Opinions.
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