Many competition authorities produce enforcement guidelines and tools with respect to various provisions of the competition legislation, based on experience, jurisprudence and accepted economic theory. They are intended to provide a better understanding of the intent of the provisions of the legislation and the general approach and enforcement procedures of the competition authority.
Australia
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has developed tailored Small Business publications, as well as a comprehensive Small Business Easy Access Point on its Web site. The general Business Rights and Obligations section is an excellent source of guidance information for the business community.
Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria Commission for Protection of Competition has a number of educational tools online to educate businesses.
Canada
The Competition Bureau Canada offers a number of tools to businesses to assist them with compliance:
- Multi-level Marketing and the Competition Act is an animated multimedia tool designed to inform Canadian businesses and consumers about the multi-level marketing and pyramid selling provisions of the Act
- Bid-Rigging Presentation is a multimedia tool designed to help business identify the warning signs of bid-rigging.
- Labelling Assessment Tools assist businesses in meeting the labelling requirements of federal legislation.
Japan
The Fair Trade Commission of Japan (JFTC) has published a “Guidebook on the Anti-monopoly Act” that explains in plain language the kind of conduct that constitutes anticompetitive behaviors under the Anti-monopoly Act. It also contains information on how the JFTC enforces the Anti-monopoly Act with a particular focus on the administrative procedures.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading has produced a CD-Rom entitled Compliance Matters that illustrates the workings of the Competition Act 1998 and the role of the OFT using documentary-style footage and a dramatic story. One of the key themes of the CD-Rom is that price fixing and anti-competitive behaviour can have serious consequence for a firm and its employees. It also encourages victims of anti-competitive behaviour to come forward and talk to the OFT.
The United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading has also published a series of Competition Act Mini Guides called Competing Fairly. They are a quick introduction to understanding and complying with competition law, ideal for small businesses with little or no competition expertise.
- Under investigation? A guide to investigations by the OFT under the Competition Act 1998
- Competing fairly - An introduction to the laws on anti-competitive behaviour
- Leniency in cartel cases - A guide to the leniency programme for cartels
- How your business can achieve compliance - A guide to achieving compliance with competition law
- Cartels and the Competition Act 1998 - A guide for purchasers