ACT No. XXXI of 1994 AN ACT 10 rtgulatt competition IlIId providt /Q' fair trod;,,! ;11 Mal/a BE IT ENACl"ED by the President , by and with the advice and a)llSenl of the House of Representatives, in this present Parliament (cefulin)

(L .S.)

UGO MIFSU D BONNICI

President

23rd December, 1994

ACT No. XXXI of 1994

AN ACT 10 rtgulatt competition IlIId providt /Q' fair trod;,,!

;11 Mal/a

BE IT ENACl"ED by the President , by and with the advice and

a)llSenl of the House of Representatives, in this present Parliament

assembled, and by the authori ty of the same, as follows: -

I. Th is Act may be cited as the Competition Act, 1994 and shall

come into force on such dale as the Minister responsible for trade may

by notice in the Gautte establish, and differen t da tes may be 50

established for diffe rent provisions or differen t purposes o f the Act .

u ghandu jibda jsehh fdik id-data li I-Ministro responsabbli ghall-

kummert jisla' jislabbilixxi b'avvi:t fj] -Gazzelta , u dali differenli jislgh u

jigu hekk Slabbil iti ghal dispomjonijiet differenti jew ghanijict

differenti la' I-All.

2, F'dan I-AIt , kemm-il darba r-rabla lal-kliem ma tchliegx

lIorfohra

"Ch(l;rmQI/" tfis..'iCr it-Ch(lirmall tal-Kummissjoni ;

-dhul min-ncgozju" lfisse r id-dhul total i min-negozju malul is-

sena linall%jarja pr«edcnli fuq is-suq lokali jew lIon'ohra ; ghall-

fini tas-5u~rtikolu (4) la' I-anikolu 7 u la' l-anikolu 21 id-dh ul min-

negozju la' intrapri:ta jfisser is-somma tad-dhu l min-negozju la'l·

inlrapriti koll ha Ii grupp la' in trapri"j;

- Direttur" tfisser I-ufficjal pubbliku Ii jrnexxi l-Uffitt ju lal·

Ko mpclizzjoni Ousta sta bbilit taht I-artikolu 3 ta' dan I-At! ;

-grupp ta' intrapriii" tinkludi

(a) I-jntra pri:ta koneemata;

(b) dawk I,intrapriii Ii fihom ].intrapri:ta I:ontc rnata ,

direttament jew indi reltament

-

ikollha aje<! minn nofs iI-kapilal Jew aniv tan-

negezju; Jew

-

ikollha s-selgha li ldertita itjed mmn nofs id-

drinijiel la' vOlazzjoni ; Jew

-

ikollha s·setglia li lal'llar itjed minn nofs il-membri

lal-bord lad-diretturi Jew korp Jew korpi ohra li legalment

ikunu jirrappre:i:enlaw liU-intrapriti ; Jew

-

ikoUha d-driuli liddiriegi l-affarijie l ta ' I-intrapriti;

(C)

dawk I-intrapriti li jkoUhom (].inlrapriia kontemata

d.driuijiet Jew selgl'lat e lenkati fiI -paragrafu (b);

(d) dawk I-intrapriti li fihom intrapriia kif imsemmija

fiI.paragrafu (t) jkol1ha d-dritt ijiet Jew setghal elenkati fiI-

pa ragrafu (b);

(e) dawk I·intrapriti li fihom kwg intrapriti Jew iijed kif

imse mmij a fiI-pa ragrafi (a) sa (d) nimkien ikoll hom id-

driuijiet jew se tgl'lat elenkati fiI -paragrafu (b);

"gl'laqda ta' intrapri:ii" tfi sse r korp ta ' persuni (sew jekk

in korporat Jew le) li Jkun kostitwit bil-ghan li jippromwovi 1-

interess kummeltiali tal-membri ti eghu Jew ta' persu ni

rapprdcntati mill·membri tieghu ;

" intrapriia ~ tfisser kull persuna naluntli Jew guridika bi skop

ekonomik u fuq bati kontinwa , u tink ludi grupp ta' inlraprili;

"Kummissjoni" tfisse r il-Kum missioni ghall·Kummelt Cust

Slabbilita tahll-artikolu 4 ta' dan I-Au;

" Minimu" tfisser il- Ministru re sponsabbli ghall-kummert;

"poiil7.joni dominanti ~ tfi sse r poiizzjoni li fiha intraprita jew

intrapriti jistghu jagi,;,;u indipendentement b'relazzjoni ghall-

kompelituri, klijenti jew prowedituri tagh hom bil·possibilitl li

jippre:ientllw O!itakolu ghat-tamma la' kompetiujoni cffetliva;

Mprodott" tinkludi oggetli u I.prowisla la' servizzi;

"suq rilevanli ~ Irl5SCr is-suq ghall.prodoll gewwa Malta kcmm

jekk ikunjew majkun,; limilat ghal,;i areajcw lokali lll panikolari;

-Uffiotju" tfissc r l-Uffittju tal -Kompctiujoni Custa slabbilit

bl·artik olu 3 ta' dan I·Att.

(Section 4)

Rules of ProcedUrt5 rc-Iativc- to the' Commlssloo ror fall' Trading

I . The Com missio n shall determine a ny matter befo re it with fairness and

impartial ity a nd in accordancc with thc provisions of this Act .

2. Before e nt ering upon their functions, the lay members of th e Commission

shall take before the Chai rman an oa th to perform their functions with fairness and

impartiality and in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

3. A mem her of the Commission shall abstain and may bechallenged in the same

ci rcumstances, mU/DIU mulDndu, as a judge of the superior courts shall abstain or may

be challe nged in accordance with the Code of Organisatio n a nd Civil Procedure .

4. Any challe nge shall be dete rmined by th e Chairman . Decisions of the

Commission shall state the reasons therefor and clea rl y indicate the unde rtakings or

categories of undertakings to which they apply.

S. Such decisions may be made to apply limitedly to a particular a rea , time or

season.

6. Any decision of the Commission may be overlU rned o r altered by the

Commission where it results tha t

(a) the information upon which it was based had been false. misleadi ng o r

incomplete; or

(b)

mark et condit ions have changed significantly.

7. (a) Procedu res before the Commission s hall be co mmcnced by a request in

writing made by the Direclo r, or by an unde rt aking o r a ro mplain ant through the

Director according to the provisions of this Act .

(b) A ny undertaking which shows th at its ope ra tions a re directly affected by

Ihe proceedings before the Commission and a ny person claiming to be the victim

of, o r to be adversely affected by, any breac h of Ihe provisions of this A ct

constituling the merits of those proceedings , incl ud ing a consume r who so clai ms

or a R egiste red Cons umers Associa ti on actin g on be half of consumers gene rally,

may requ est in writing to be admitted to interve ne in the proceedi ngs before the

Commissio n at any stage the reof.

(c) Fo r the purposes of paragraph (b) he reof, a Registered Consumers

Associatio n means a Consumers Association registered in accordance with the

Consumer Affairs Act , 1994.

8. Mcctings of th e Commission shall be held in camera

Provided tha t

(a)

the Di rector shall have a righlto be presen t during all meetings

A

(b) the relevant undenaking and a ny compl ainant shall have a right to make

submissions on any malter before the Commission, as well as to present any

docum e nts or other evidence that may be relevant to the malter.

9. Before proceeding with any complaint, the Commission shall first dete rmin e

whether the complaint is admissible, and shall inform the complai nant of any such

determination.

10. The Commission shall also info rm the Director , the relevant undertaking and

the complainant of any decision on the maller before it .

Where a repan is sent to the complainanr, the Chairman of the Commission

shall ensure that any confidential business information o n the unde naking subject of

the procecdings is no t included in the repan.

11 . Thc Com mission shall have, c:xercisable through its Chairman, the powers

vested in the Civil Court , First Hall . and in particular the power to sum mon witnesses.

the power to appoint ell:pe rt witnesses and referees a nd the power to administer the

oath.

Where a witness duly summoned fails to appear OD the day on which he is

summoned. the Chairman may o rder the Police to aITe$t sl1ch witneuand produ~ him

before the Commission 10 give evidence .

12. The Comm ission may at any stage in any proceedings before it require the

Office fo r Fair Co mpeti tio n 10 carry o ut investiga ti ons o n any maller which it deems

necessary.

13. Withou t prejudice to seC1ion 190f this AC1. decisionsof lhe Commission shall

be published in such manner as th e Chairman of the Commission with the concurrence

of the DireC10r may dete rm ine

Provided th at the Chairman shall ensure that no business secret of any

un dertaking shall be disclosed.

14. In the in terpre tatio n of this Ac\, the Commissio n shall have recourse to its

previous deci sions and to the inte rpre tation by the o rgans of th e European Union on

the provisions of the relevant provisio ns o f the treaties and direetives of the European

Union relative to co mpeti tion.

Passed by the Ho use of Representatives at Sitting No. 367 of the 10th December.

1994. LAWREf'lC E GOf'lZI

S~Qktr

R ICH"RO J. C" UC HI

Clerk /0 the House of RepresentOlives

Ippubblibt mid. Dipartiment to' l·lnlOfmaujoni - K ... il}io - PwbIisW b, IM o.P""-'" ,,'I~fo,,'"/;" _ K",PJ;'

_Prilud.,

W Go""""""" f'riIWIot. "'-

Mitbup n· 101ampcrij. tal·(h..,m

In this Act unless the conte xt ot herwise requires

~associa lk>n

of undenakings~ means a body of persons

(whether incorporated or nOI) which is formed for the purpose of

furthering the trade interest of its members or of persons

represe nted by its members;

"Chairman ~ means the Oairman of the Commission;

~Com miss ion "

lIIeans the Commission for Fair Trading

established under section 4 of this Act;

~Director~ means the public officer headi ng the O flice for Fair

Competition established unde r section 3 of this Aet ;

"dominant position" means a posi tion in which an undenaking

o r undenakings can act independently in relation to thei r

competitors, customers or suppliers with the possibili ty of

presentin g an obstacle to the maintenance of effective competition;

MJrOUp of undcnakings M includes

(a)

the undertaking concerned;

(b) those undertakings in which the: undertaking

conce rned, di rectly o r indirectly

-

own5 mo re than half the: capital or business

asscu;or

has the power 10 acrcise more: than half the

-

voting righa; Of

-

has the: power 10 appoint more than half the

members of the board of directors or other body or bodies

legally representing the undertakings; or

_ has the right 10 manage: the undertakinp'

affain;

(c) those undertak ings which have in the undertak ing

concerned the: righlS or powers listed in paragraph (b) ;

(d) those undertakings in which an undertaking as

referred 10 in paragraph (c) hllS the rights or powcn listed in

paragraph (b);

(e) those undertakinp in which two or more

undertakings as rdc:rred to in paragraphs (a) 10 (d) jointly

have the rights or powers listed in paragraph (b);

- Ministe r" mcan5 1he Ministe r responsible for trade

MOrfice" means the Officc for Fair Competition established by

seclion 3 of Ihis Act ;

M product ~ includes goods and the supply of scrvices;

- relevant market - mc:ans the market for the product within

Malta whether or not limited to any particular area or locali ty

- tUnlOve r- means the total tu rnove r realised during the

precedi ng financia l yea r on the local market or otherwise: : for the

purpose of subsection (4) of se:ction 7 and of section 2 1 the turnove r

of an undertakin g means the sum of the turnovers of all

un dertakings in a gro up of und ertakings;

- undertaking" means Hny natural or Icgll.l pe rson pursuing an

economic purpose on a continui ng basis, and ine1udes a group of

undertakings.

(I ) Th ere shall be an Office for Fair Competition , whic h shall Eot.blishmenl et

be a Governmen t departme nt having the following functions, that is to ~" :C ~ Fair

say

........ pc:I'_.

(a) to advise unde rtakings. associa tions of undertakings and

the public in relatio n to matters conce rned with fair trad ing

practices and procedures und er this Act;

(b) to advise and make proposals and recommendations to

the Ministe r in relation to any matter co nce rning the eJl:ercise of his

functions under this A ct

(c) to investigate rest ricti ve practices in competition in terms

of th is Act; and

(d) gene rally to exercise the powers confe rred to it unde r this

A ct. and as may be assigned to it by the Minister, within theconle Jl:t

of this Act.

(2) ll1e Office for Fair Competi tio n shall be under the

control of a Director. [n carrying out the funct ions of the Office fo r Fai r

Competition, the Director may delegate any of his powers unde r this

A ct to any public office r e mployed with o r anaehed to his de partment .

( I) There shall be a Commissio n to be known as the EotobliNlmentet

Commission for Fai r Trading. and wh ich shall be composed of a Comm ' ' )1 • •

Chai rman and two other me mbers appointed by the Preside nt o n the

advice of the Prime Ministe r.

(2)

(a) The Chai rman shall be a Magistrat e and the two

ot he r members shall be a n Economist a nd a Ce rtified Public

Accounta nt ;

(b) More tha n onc Magistra te. o ne E«momist and o ne

Ce rtified Publk Accountant may be appoi nted to 1il o n the

Comm ission, but on ly one Magistra te , o ne Economist and one

Ce rtified Public Accoun tan t shall sit in anyone case.

(3) (a) The members of the Commission. othe r than the

Chairman. he reinafte r in th is section rderred to as Mthe lay

members-. shall be appoin ted fo r a period of three years a nd shall

be eligible fo r reappointme nt .

(b) The lay me mbers of the Commission may resign

thei r offJCe by lette r addressed to tbe President bu t may no t be

re moved eltccp( by the Presiden t act ing on the recomme ndation of

the Commission fo r the Admi nistration of Justice.

(c) Not ice of all appointme nts to the Commission and er

all o ther c hanges in its membership shall be published in the

Gazelle.

(d ) 'Ilte lay members of the Com mission shall receive

such remuneration for theiT services as may be prescribed

provided that such remune ra tion may nOI be alt e red during the

te nure of their appoin tme nt .

(e) A pe rson shall not De qualified 10 be appointed or

le mai n a ray membe r of th e Commission if

he is an undischarged ban krupt ; or

(i)

(ii)

he has been sen tenced to imprisonment for SIX

mo nths or morc by any court ; or

(Ui)

he has been found gu ilty f or any o ffence against this

Act; or

(iv) ifhe is a Membcr of the Houseo! Represe ntatives.

(I) An y member of the Commission shall before the

commencement of any case declare any interest he may have in the

proceedings.

(4) The Minister shall appoint a public officer to be secretary

to the Com mission. The Secretary shall mutatis mUlQndis have the same

powers and d uties of the Registrar ofCouns. and shall lake inst ructions

from the Chairman in all circumstances Ihat the said registrar in

accordance wit h the Code of O rga nisation and C ivil Procedure is 10 lake

instructions from a Magis trate presiding a particular court.

(5) (a)

The Commission shall have the powers and shall

follow the procedu res laid o ut in the Schedule to th is Act;

(b) th e Co mmission may with the a pproval of the

Minister ma ke ru les not inconsistent wi th this Act or the provisions

of the Sched ule thereto , prescri bing the proced ures and the forms

to be followed and used before it ;

(c) in the absence of provisio ns or rul es as aforesaid the

Commission shall regulate its own proced ures.

S. ( I) The followi ng sha ll be unlawfu l, that is to say any

agree ment be tween unde rtakings, any decision by an un de rtaking or by

an associa tion of unde rt akings an d any concerted practice between

undertakings having the obje<:t or effect of preven ting, restricting or

distorti ng competition wi thin the relevant marke t and in particular, but

without prej udice to the generali ty of thi s subsection , to partake in any

agree ment, decisio n or practice wh ich

(a) directly o r indi rectly fixes the purchase or sell ing price or

other trad ing cond itions; or

(b) li mits or con trols production, markets, techn ical

developmen t or investmen t ; or

(c)

shares ma rke ts or sources of supply; or

(d) imposes the applica tion of dissimilar conditio ns to

equ ivale nt transactions with other part ies o utside such agree ment,

thereby placing them at a competiti ve disadvantage: or

(e) makes the conclusion of contracts subject to th e

acce ptance by the other pa rti es of supple men tary obligatio ns

which, by their nature or aocording to com mercial UiIIge, have no

oonnection with the subject of such oontracu.

(2) Agreemen ts o r decisions prohibitcd in accordano: with

subsection (I) of tb~ section $.hIlU be ipso iUT~ null and uocnforecable .

( I) Da n li gcl mhu wiex legillimu , jigifieri kull akkordju bej n

intraprizi, k ull dcCi7.joni minn intrapriza Jew minn ghaqda ta ' int rapriti u

kull pratt ika mifti chm a bel n intrap ri"!:; li jsiru hi l-hsieb Jew li jkollhom 1-

cffelt li jimpedixxu , irattnu Jew ixekklu I-kompelittjoni fis-suq rilevanti

u partikolanne nt. itAla minghajr pregudizzju gh all.generalitA ta' d an is·

su bartikolu , j iehu sc hem rxi akkordj u, deCizJon i Jew prattika li

(a) jiHissaw il-prezz ta' XiTi Jew bejgh Jew kundizzjonijic\

kummercjali ohra, ke mm b'moo direll Jew indirett : jew

(b) jillimitaw Jew jikkonlro ll aw il-produzzjoni, is-swieq , I·

itvilupp t'! knik u jew I-in vesliment: Jew

(c)

iqassmu 5.swieq Jew soTSi ta ' provvista; jew

(d) jimponu I-applika.zzjoni ta' kondizzjonij iet differenti

gha l transanjonijict ekwivalenti ma' partijiel ohn. mhux imdahh la

fdak I-akkordju , u b'hekk ipogguhom Ii zvantaU kompe lilliv; jew

jaghmlu I-kon klu tjon i IU ' kuntrall i sugge tl a ghaH·

(C)

obbligaujon iiiel

acce tl Cl.zzjoni

rnill -partijiet

I·ohra

ta '

supplimenla ri Ii. mix-xorta laghhom Jew skond I-u:l:u kumme rqali.

maj koll ho m ebda konnessjoni mllll-5uUe l1 la' kunlran l bhal dawn .

(2) Akkordj i Jew dctiiJo nijiel projbili skond is-subartikolu

( I) la' dan I-a rtikolu jkunu ipjo iure nulli u mhux esegwibbli .

( I) Any person in c harge of an unde rt aking who has reason

to believe th at any agreeme nt between undertakings, any decision by an

A'sociation of unde rtakings (X a ny c:once rted practice between

undertakinp may be III prohibited agreement o r practice in terms o f

section 5 of this Act, shall seek the negative clea ra nce of the Director in

accordance with th c fo llowi ng provisions of this section but, having

sought suchdeannce, such person shall 001 be precl uded from actin, in

aooordance with the said _, reement, decision or practice until such

negative clearance is granted .

(2) At the req uest in writin,of any inte rested underta.lr. ingor

/IS5OCiation of undertakings, the Director may give negativeclcarance to

a n agreeme nt, decision or conce rted practice by declaring tha t

according 10 the facts of which he is a ware , (X o n the basis of the

infonnation provided by the undertaking o r R5!(ICia tion of underta kinp

to the Di rector, there is no need to in tervene in respect the reof in

accorda nce with this Act.

(3) Decisions granting nega tive dearance may be limited in

effect fo r such time as may be stated in the same decision.

(4) Without prejudice to subseaion (5) bt:reof a negative

clearance cive n in /IIXOrdance with this section may be revoked by the

Director whe re

(a) it resu lts th at th e info rm at ion supplied wi th such request

had been false , misleading o r incomplete: o r

(b)

market condi tions have c hanged signifIca ntly.

(5) It shall no t be lawful in connection with a request fo r

negative clearance to supply to the Di rector any info rmation which is

faise , misleading o r incomplete, a nd a ny negative cleara nce given on the

basis of such inronnatkm shall be null and without effect.

(6) A nepliveclearance given by the Directorsha U have the

same effect as an exemption alve n by the Commission in terms of

section 7 of this Act.

(7) The Director shall from time 10 lime det e rmine the

proced ure fo r maki ng requests for nega tive clearances under this

section.

(S) Wbe re neplive elearance has bee n refused by the

Directo r unde r this $Cctio n it shall no t be lawful to proceed with the

agreeme nt , decision o r co nce rted practice fo r which cleara nce has not

bee n gran ted by the Director provided that where such ncptive

dearanee had been sought in acrordancc with the provisions of

s ubsection (t) of this K ction the refusal he rein mentioned shall no t

affect th e validity of anyt hing do ne in accordance with the provisions of

the same subseaion before that refusal.

( 1) No twithstand ing th e provi sions of section 5 of th is Act ,

the Commission may, upon an applica ti on for the purpose made by an

undettaking o r by an association of undertakings through the D irecto r •

decla re that

(a) any agree me nt o r ca tegory o f agree me nts between

undertakin gs; o r

(b) any decisio n or catego ry of decisions by associa tions of

undertakings; or

(c) a ny conce rted practice o r category of concerted

practices,

wh ich in eac h case con tribute to wards the o bjective of im proving

prod uction o r distribution of goods o r pro mo ting technical o r economi c

progress a nd which allo ws consum ers a fair share of the resultant

be nefi t, no t to be restrictive practices in compe tition . and th e re upon the

provisions of section 5 of this Act shall no t a pply

Provided tha t the Commission shall not so deela re a ny suc h

agree me nt , decisio n o r practice if the said agree me nt , decision or

practice eit he r

(i) im poses on undertakings conce rned any restriction which

is not indispensable to the attainmen t of the said objeaive; o r

(ii) gives the undertakings concerned the possibility of

eliminating o r significantly reducin g compe titio n in respect of a

substantial pa rt o rlh e products to which the agreeme nt , decisio n or

practice refers.

(2) The Comm issio n may make a ny declarat io n to which

subsection (I) of this sectio n a pplies, subject 10 such conditions and

lim it atio ns as it ma y deem o pport une.

(3) The Comm ission may also cxc mpt from the provisio ns of

subsectio n ( I) of sectio n 5 of this A ct an y agreeme nt. decision o r

practice the rein refe rred to if it considers that the impact o f the

agree me nt , decision o r practice on the rele va nt mark e t is minimal.

(4) In de te rmining whe the r the im pact of a n agree me nt,

decision o r practice is mo re th an minimal on the re leva nt ma rke t , the

Commi ssion shall conside r all rele vant ci rcumstances including but not

limi tedly the sha re of the unde rta ki ngs co nce rned of the rele vant

ma rke t

Provided that unless proof is adduced to the contrary the

impact o n the marle e t s hall be presumed to be minimal if the

unde rta kings conce rned do no t betwee n them exceed any two of the

fo ll owing criteri a

(a) an a ve rage e mployme nt of20 persons d uri ng the re le vant

period; o r

(b) an annual turnover of three hundred thousand Maltese

liri, or such other highe r sum as the Minister may pfC!SCiibe:; o r

(c) a net asset value of one hundred and fifty thousand

Maltese liri, or such other higher sum as the Minister may

prescribe:.

(I) The Ministe r may by regulations after consultation with

the Commission prescribe Ihat section S of this Act shall not apply to any

category of agreements, decisions and practices as may be specified in

the: regulations.

(2) The Minister may in any such regulations make any such

e.emption as aforesaid subject to such condi tk>ns a nd limitations as he

may deem appropriate.

(1) I1 shall not be lawful for any ontor more uooe rtakinp to

abuse of a dominant position in the relevant market.

(2) Without prej udice to the ge nerality of the provisions of

subsection (1) hereof, onc or mo re undertakings shall be deemed to

abuse of a dominant position in th e relevant market , where it o r they

(a) directly or indirectly impose an excessive or unfair

purchase or selling price o r other unfair trad ing conditions to the

prejudice of consumers o r suppliers;

(b) charge prices which are below the marginaloost price of a

product in order to drive rival competitors Oul of the marke t;

(c) limit production , markets or technical development to

the prejudice of consumers

(d) refuse to supply goods or serviCC5 indiscriminately in

o rder to eliminate a trading party from the relevant market to the

prejudice of consumers;

(e) apply

dissimilar

conditions,

including

discrimination to equivalent transaction s with different trading

parties. thereby placing any o r some of the uading parties at a

competitive disadvantage;

(t) make the conclusion o f OOO Iract5 subject to the

acxeptance by the other party of supplemen tary obligat io ns which ,

by their nature or according 10 commercial usage, have no

connection with the subject of such contracts.

(l) Whether an undertak ing is alone or with others in a

dominant position. and whether a ny act constitutes an abuse of a

dominant position shall be detennined by the Commi55ion on a n

application for the purpose by the Director , or by an undertaking o r a

complainant through the Director.

(4) For the: purpose of detennining whether one o r more

undertakings arc in a dominant position , an undertaking ""hid! alonc o r

in concen with others has a share of at least 40% of the relevant markct

shall always be deemed to be in a dominant position

Provided tha t one or more undertakings which alone or in

concert with others have a share below4O% or m e relevant market may.

nOlwithsland ing lhe above , be determined to be in a dominanl posi tion.

(5) In determining whethe r the price charged is excessive or

unfai r, the Commission shall consider all relevant factors and 5hall

where appropriate have regard 10

(a) the price charged fo r the product (in absolu te terms);

(b)

the percentage increase or inaeases in the price over the

long and shon term ;

(c) the relationship between the price and the COSI of the

product

the period of time for which the price has been charged;

(d)

(e)

the economic value o f the product ;

(t) the importance of the product 10 consumers;

(g)

the economic or other risks associated wit h bringing the

product 10 the market;

(b) the invC5tment o f ca pital and other resources necessary

to bring the prodUClIO the market;

(i) the expected . probable or possible changes in the marke t

fo r the product; Ind

(j) th e pnce chlrged fo r the product byotherundertakingsin

Malta and by the lame o r other undertakings in other analogous

markeu.

(I) Any person in charge of an undertaking who has reason

10 believe that the undertaking i, in a dominant position and that any

action. practice o r othe r mluer done o r omilled to be done by them may

constitute a n abuse of a dominant position pro hibited undcr seccio n 90f

this Act. shall not take such accion, or make such practice or o ther

mauer, before obtaining the approval of the Director therefor.

(2) The provisions of sUhscct io ns (3). (4), (S) and (7) of

section 6shall. mU/alis mutandis. apply to a request under this seccion as

they apply 10 a request for negative clearance under the said sectio n 6.

(3) Where cleara nce has bee n refused by the Director under

this section it shall not be lawful to proceed with the accion, practice o r

matter iD conneccion with which the clearance was not gran ted by the

Director.

11 . (I) The Director may from time to time by Order

(hereinafter referred to as ~ Mpricc Order~ ~ p.csclibc the ",'Iaximum

and services. may be sold or offered for sale.

(2) Price Orders shall come into force on the dale of their

publication in the Gazette or such later date as may be s pecified in the

(3) Price O rders shall withi n sill months of their publica tion

in the Gazelle be reviewed by the Commission, which shall d uri ng the

course of such revie w hea r the Director, and the representatives of any

interested unde rt a king o r associatio n as it may deem proper.

(4) Where the Commission after the review as aforesaid

da:lares th at a Price Order is appropriate and necessary. such Price

Orde r shall rem ai n in fon:e, unl ess pre viously revoked by the Director,

for a period of o ne yea r from the decision of the Commission.

(5) Where th e Commi ssion afte r the review as aforesaid

finds that th e Price Order is not appropriate and necessary, or whe reon

the lapse of the six months fro m the publication of the Price Orde r in th e

Gazette th e Commission has nOI finalised the review, Ihe Price Order

shall cease to have effect.

(6) When a Price O rder ceases to ha ve effect , this shall be

without prejudice to:-

(a)

any liabi lity incurred during the period of its validity ;

(b) a nything lawfully don e or omitted to be done during the

period of its validi ty;

(c) any obligation incu rred in favour of any person or any

right acquired against any person during the period of its val idity;

"d

(d) the right of the Directo r to make th e same or a similar

O rder in accordance with s ubsectio n ( I) of thi s section.

(7) For th e purposes of thi s section essential goods and

services shall include , but shall not be limited to , food. drink .

phannaceuticals and clothing.

(I ) It sha ll be the duty of the Office for Fair Competition to I.. ·it"! .......

e nsure that the provisions of this A ct are observed by all, and 10 ga ther

infonnation that may be necessary for the Commssion to carry out its

functions; and fo r such purpose it shall have power to carry out

investigations in any of the following cases

(a) upon a request of the Commissmn in relation to any

request in writing to the Commission by an undertaking o r an

association of undertakings under section 7 o r 5ubse<:t:mn (3) of

section 9; or of its o wn motmn in relat io n to any such request

communicated to it by the Commission; or

(b) of its own motion or al the request of the Minister, or

co mplainant on a reasonabl e allegation in writing of a breach o( the

provisions of sections S, 9 o r 11 of this Act.

(2) During the course of any investigation carried out by the

Office for Fair Competition in accordance with subsecti on (1) of this

sectio n, the Directo r may request any per.;.on 10 furnish him with any

inform ation or document in his possession which the Director has

reason to believe is relevant 10 the maller under investigation , within

such time as in th e ci rcumstances of th e investigati on the Director may

conside r reaso nable.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section may be

construed as authorising the Director 10 order the production of any

document o r the disclosure of any informatio n which ma y be subj ect 10

the duty of professio nal secrecy.

(4) In the course of a ny such investigation the Directo r ma y

rece ive writte n o r verbal statements from wi tnesses as well as make

copies of a ny docume nt prod uced to him , a nd the record of such

stateme nts and such copies duly a Uested by the Director shall be

producible as e vidence befo re the Commission.

(5) 1be Director, d uly authorised by a Warrant issue4by the

Chairman of the Commission, may, for the pu rpose of any investiga tion

undcr th is section enler inlo a nd search any prem ises and any o the r

place, or search any means of transport whe re he has reason to believe

that info rmatio n relevan t to the in vestiga tion may be fou nd , and in the

course of any such search may seize any object o r docume nt, o r o rder

the non-removal of a ny Object from any such pre mises, and in

connection with any such order maydose and seal a nyor all pamor any

premises an d any othe r place, o r mea ns of tra nsport , o r put any object

under seal.

(6) In the course of a ny sea rch as is refe rred to in subsection

(5) of this secti on the Director may requesl the assistance of the Police;

however , in the case of a search which is 10 be ca rried ou t in a residen tial

premises, the Director shall always be accompanied by a police officer

not belo w the ra nk of Inspector .

(7) An y o rde r given by the Director in accorda nce with

subsecti on (S) of this sectiOn shall remai n in force until it is cance lled by

th e Directo r o r by the Co mmissio n.

(8) No search may be co mme nced o n a ny pre mises afte r 7

o'clock in th e evening and befo re 7 o'cloc k o n the ne xt foll owing

mo rning, unl ess there is reaso n to be li eve that de laycould cause the loss

of necessary info rmati o n II nd the sea rc h is expressly autho ri sed to take

place betwee n the said times in the relevant Warrant.

(9) Not hing in this sectio n shall be deemed to detract from

the powe rs of th e Police under Ihe Cri minal Code or unde r any othe r

law.

(10) Any info rma tion disclosed 10 the Directo r o r a ny

docume nt produced 10 him during an investi gation shall be secret and

confide ntial a nd may o nly be disc losed befo re Ihe Commi ssio n in an y

maller befo re it , or before a eompetcnt court in relatio n to the

prosecu tion of a ny offe nl:t agai nst th is Act.

IJ. Upon the completion of an investigation under sectio n 12 of

this Act the Director shall make a report of the concl usions arrived at by

him in the said invesligatio llll. giving his reasons therefor and ma king

reference 10 the evidence in support thereto . which evidence shall at the

request of the Commission be produced before ;!.

(I ) Ikun id-dm ir ta' I, Uffittju lal -Kom petiajoni Cusla li In_ip..r.ojonijio(.

jit gura li d-dispotizzjonijie t la' dan I-An jiju OS5el'Vlli minn ku lhadd, u

li iigbor it' la&h rif li jisla' jkun mehlieg hiex il-Kummissjoni Ikun tisla'

laq<li I-funzjonijicllagh ha; u gha l da n il.ghan ghandu jkollu s-selgha li

jaghmel investigazzjonij iel fkull wichcd min" dawn il- katijiet Ii jejjin;

(a) fuq (alba tal-Kumm issjoni dwar Iti talba bil-miktub lill-

Kummissjoni minn intraprita Jew gflaqda la' iOlrapriii latll 1-

artikolu 7 Jew is-subanikolu (3) ta ' I-artikolu 9; jew bl-inizjalliva

lieghu sless dwar kull talba bhal dik kom unikata lihl milt-

Kummissjonij Jew

(b) bl-inizjauiv3 tiegllu stess jew fuq talba tal -MinislN la'

persuna b'il mcnl bil-miklub fuq al1eganjoni ragonevoli la' ksur

tad-dispotiujonijiet ta' I-anikoli 5, 9 jew 11 ta' dan I-AtL

(2) Fil-kors ta' kull investigaujoni maghmula mill-Uffia:ju

tal -Ko mpct izzjoni Custa skond is-suba rtikolu (1) ta' dan I-artikolu. id-

Di rettur jistB ' jillob lil kull persuna bicK tipprovdih b'kul1 taghrif Jew

dok ument m-pussess laghha li d-DirCll ur ikollu ghalfejn jahseb li jkun

rilcvan li ghal1 -kwistjoni 1i tkun qed ligi investigata, fi fm ien li fie-

erkostanv ta' I-i nvestigazzjoni d-Direttur iqis li jkun ragonevol i.

(3) EDda haga IIs-suba n ikolu (2) la' dan I-an ikol u ma tista'

tiftiehem li tawtorizza lid-Direttur li jordna l-produzzjoni ta' xi

dokume nt jew I-itvelar ta' xi informazzjoni li jistghu jku nu suggetti

ghad-dmi r ta' segre tezza professjonali_

(4) Fil- kors ta' kull invcst igazzjoni bhal dik id-Di rettur jista'

jireevi dikjarazzjonijiel bil- miktub jew vc rbali minn xhieda kif ukoll

jaghm el kopj; la' kull doku menl migjub lilu , u r-ruord la' dawk id-

dikjarattjonijiel u la' dawk il-kopji debilamenl attestal mid- Direttur

ikun jisla' jingieb bhala prova quddi em il-Kummissjoni.

(5) Id-Dirett ur, awtoriu..al kif imiss b' Wllrrllnl mahrug mic-

Chairman lal- Kumm issjoni, jisla', ghall-iskop Ill' kull invesliga12joni

laht dan I-arlikolu, jidhol u jaghmel tfitlx ija fkull fond u fkull imkien

ic hor jew jaghmel lfiltxija fkull mezz la' traspon fej n huwa jkollu

ghalfejn jahseb 1i tkun liSla' linslab informazzjoni rilevanti gball-

invcstigalZjoni , u fil-kors la' kull lfillxija bhal dik jisla' jikkonllska kull

oUett jewdokumenl jew jordn a li ma jitnehh a eDda oUett minn xi fond

bhal dak , u in konncssjoni ma' kull ordni bhal dik jisla' jaghlaq u

jissigill3 kwa lun kwe pani jcw il-panijiet koll ha la' kull fond u la' kull

imkien ichor, jew melZ la' traspon, jcw iqieghed kull oggetllahl sigill .

(6) Fil-kors ta' kull tfittxij a kif imse mmi fi s-subartikolu (5)

ta' dan l-ani kolu d- Direttu r jista' jillob I-ghajnun a lal-Pulizija; b'dan

illi, fiI -kd la' lfillxija li ghandha ssir rfond rcsidcn7.ja li , id-Direttur

gh andu dcjlcm ikun akkumpanjal h'uffit jal tal -pulizija Ii ma jkollux

kariga inqas minn dik la' Spett ur.

(7) Kull ordni moghtij a mid-Dirett ur skond is-subartikol u

(5) ta ' dan I·anikolu ghandha tibqa' IIs-se hh sakemm lig; mhassra mid -

Dire ttur jew mi1l-Kummissjoni.

(8) EDda lfillxija ma lisla' linbeda r.i fond wara s-7 .001a' fil-

g1Iaxija 11 qabel is-7.00 ta' I-ghada filghodll , kemm-il da rba ma jkunx

hemm ghalrejn wiehed jahseb li d-dewmien iku n jista' jwassal ghal-

lelfien ta' informazzjoni mehliega 11 kemm-il darba I-tfil lliija ma tkunx

g;el espressamenl aW!Qrizzala biex issir be;n I-imse mm ija hinijiel fil-

Wa"anl rile\l8nli .

(9) EDdahaga rdan I-arti kolu ma ghandhH tilqies Ji Inaqqas

is-selghat lal-Pulizija taht i\- Koditi Kriminal i jew lahl xi li gi ohra.

(10) Kul! informazzjoni li ligi tve lata lid- Dirett ur jew kull

dokumen l li jingieb liIu waql investigaujoni gbandhom ikunu sigrieti u

kunfidenzjali u jistgliu jigu tvelati biss quddi em il-Kummi ssjoni fxi

kwestjoni quddiemha, jew quddiem qorti kompetenti b'relazzjoni gliall-

prosekuzzjoni ta ' xi real kontra dan I-Atl.

Il, Mat-tlestija ta' invesligazzjoni lahlJ-artikolu 12 ta' dan I-An

id· Direttur ghandu jaghmeJ rapport taJ-konkl utjonijiet li jkun wasal

ghalibom fl-imsemmija invesligazzjonijiet. li fih jaghti r-ragunijiel ghal

dawk il, konklutjonijiel u jaglimel riferenxa ghall-provi b'soste nn ta'

dawk il-konkJutjonijiel. liema provi ghandhom fuq il-Ialba lal·

Kummissjoni jingiebu quddiemba.

14, (t) Mela I.Uffittju lal-Kompetizzjoni Gusla jirtievi ilmen t

kif imsemmi fiI. paragrafu (b) tat-subartikolu (I) ta' I·artikolu 12 huwa

ghandu l-ewwel jetamina jek..k dak I-ilment ikunx ammissibbli jew

xort 'ohra, u rej n ikun tal-fehma li I-ilmenl ikun inammissibbli huwa ma

ghandux jaghmel I-in vestigazzjoni relan iva u ghandu jghanaf lill-

Kummissjoni r dak is-sens.

(2) Meta I. Kummissjoni ma taqbilx li I· ilmenl ikun

inammissibbli hija ghandha tghanaf lid-Direttur rdak is-sens, u d-

Direnur ghandu fuq dan jibda jew jirre:iumi I-investigattjonijiel .

IS. (1) II-Kummissjoni ghall·Kummerc Gusllisla ·. fuq il-Ialba

lad-Direllur jew ta ' xi inlrapriia jew la' persuna b' ilment, permezz (ad-

Direnur, liehu mituri illl~rim mahsuba biex jissospendu kull praltika

restrittiva li Ikun qed ligi investigala jekk dan ikun urgenlemenl

mehlieg biex liS; evilala silwazzjoni li x'aktan: li5la' likkaguna

pregudittju se rju. immedjal u irreparabbli ghall-inleressi la' xi

intra priia. jew li laghmel hsara lill-inte ress ekonomiku generali.

(2) Meta t-Ialba issir mid-Direttu r dik it-talba ghandu

jkollha maghha rapport bir-ragunijietli fib id-Direttur jghid il-miiuri li

jqis mehliega sabiex jigu sospin I-praniki li jkunu qed jigu invesligali.

(3) Meta t·lalba ssi r minn persuna b'ilment . jJ· Kummissjo ni

ghandha, ke mm· il darba d-Direllur ma jkunx ghamel hetk digl mela

jineferi I-ilment , Ighaddi I-Ialba ghal-Iehid la' mit uri intt:rim lid-

Direttur li ghandu jaghmel rapport bir-ragunijielli fih isemmi I-mituri li

jqis mehliega sabiex jigu sospin I-prauiki li jkunu qed jigu invcsligali .

(4) Id-Direuur ghandu jissonomeui r-rapport !ill-

Kummissjoni fi tm ien hmislax·il jum u ghandu jinnotifika kopja lar-

rapport bil.posla regislrata liII-inlrapriia jew ghaqda li Ikun qed ligi

investigata li tisla' laghmel SOllomissjonijiet bil-miktub lilI-

Kummissjoni dwar ir-rapport fi tmien hmislax·il jum minn meta

lirCievih: iida I.imsemmija perijodi jistghu jigu mqassra mill-

Kummissjoni skond kif ikun jidhrilha xieraq fie-cirkostanzi .

(5) I1· Kummissjoni ghandha , fi tmien ghaxllrt ijiem mill-

alihar data li fiha ghandhom jaslulha s-sollomissjonijiel ta' l-inuapriia

jew gb aqda koncc rD lIllI, b'detitjoni bir-ragunijiel lordna kull miiura

interim li hij a Iqis Ii Ikun xierqa fic-i:irkoslanzi .

(6) id·detitjoni ghandha ligi nolifikala mis-Segrelarju la l.

KUmmissjoni lid· Di rellu r u IiI daw k I-inlrapriti Jew ghaqd ielli I.alliyila

laghhom Ikun qed tigi invesligala .

(7) Ordni moghli bis·sahha la· dan I·arlikolu ghandu jkollu

e ffelt im medjal u ghand u jibqa' jsehh gbal pcrijodu la' Ilell xhur

kemm· iJ darba ma jigix qabe l re vokal mill-Kummi ssjo ni Jew ke mm. il

darba I. kwesljoni Ii Ikun qed tigi inyestigata tkun giet determinala mill-

~ummi ~joni qabeJ I·imsemmi pcrijodu ta' lieu xhur. Ebda hap rdan

Is·subartrkolu ma ghandha tiomm lm· Kummissjoni milli lohrog I-isless

Ord ni gh8] pc rijodu iehor Jew pcrijodi ohra ta' lien xhur

It da dok I·Ordn i ma jisla' r ebda kat jeslendi aktar minn

perijodu massim u ta ' sena,

16, (I) MCla I-Kummissjoni liddikja ra li xi akkordju, deCiijoni

Je w praltika jkun u bi ksur lad· di spoZizzjonijiel la' I·arlikol u 5 la' dan I.

All, kull persuna li wara li Ikun giet ippu bbli kata di k id-deazjoni

laghmel xi att rkonform il:' ma' dak I·akkordju, del':iijoni Jew prattika

tkun halj a ta' reat konlra dan I·arlik olu.

(2) Kull persuna inkariga la minn inlraprita li jkollha

ghal fejn tah seb 1i xi akkordju , dcCitjoni Jew xi praUika ikun Jew tkun bi

ksur tas·s ubanik ol u (I) ta' )·anikolu 5 ta' dan I· An u tagixxi skond dak

I.ak kordju jew dik id.deatjon i Jew prattika rni nghajr ma qa bellfitlex I·

approvazzjoni negattiva tad-Di rettur kif mehlieg tah t is·s ubartikolu (I )

ta' I· an ikolu 6 18' dan I-An, Ikun hatja la' real taht dan ]·anikolu

Ilda pcrsuna ma ghandh icx linghala piena ghal reat lahl dan

is·sub aniko lu jekk I. akk ordju, del':itjoni Jew prattika imse mm ija ma

li gix dikjarala li tikse r I· imsemmi suba n ikolu (I) ta ' ]·arlik ol u 5

b'de(:iijoni lal. Kummissjoni pubblikala skond id-dispotizzjon ijiet la'

dan I-Att.

(3) Mela Ikun inghatat xi eienzjo ni mid-dispoZizzjonijiet la'

I· anikolu 5 ta' dan I· AII kull pcrsuna li tagi xxi barn mid-

dispotizzjonijiel ta ' dik I-etenzjoni Jew li ma limx ill skond kull

kondizzjoni li jkun hemm fiha Ikun halja ta' real kon tra dan I·arlikolu _

17, Mela xi azzjon i tkun gic t dikjarata mill· Kummissjoni bhala Ii

tkun abbut minn potizzjoni dominanti skond I·anikolu 9 la' dan I.An,

kull persuna li wara li Ikun giet ippubblikala dik id-detitjoni tiehu

schem rd ik I, a.zzjoni Ikun hatja la' rea l kon tra dan I·arti kotu .

18, Kull persun a ti tagl'lmellli at! kuntrarj u gha l ordni mahrug

mill· Ku mmissjoni skond I·artikol u ]S wara ti dak ]·ordni jkun gie

pubblika t Ikun halja ta ' real kontra drln I·an ikolu .

19, Gha ll.fin ijict ta' l,art ikoti 16, 17 u 18detitjoni jew ordni lal-

Kumm issjoni ghand hom jitqicsu li jkunu gcw ippubbl ikali, m~ la jkun ~

gew ippublikati b'avvit fiI ·Gattelta , Jew meta b're]azzJO!U ghal Xl

individwu parti kola ri jku nu gcw noti fika ti lilu Jew b'aU gudizzja rju jew

bil, ko nse nja la' kopja taghhom mid· Dircltur.

lida rejn I-intraprita Jew il-pe rsun a li kontra taghh a saT l-

i1ment Ikun giel nOlifikata bil- proecdim ent i qudd ie m il-Kumm issjoni,

fiI-konfronl la' dik l-inlraprita Je w pe rsu na d-debtjoni Jew ordni tal-

Kummissjoni dwa r dak I-ilmenl tilqies li giel pu bblikata fid-data 1i giC I

pronunzjata.

20, Kull persun a li tiksc r id-dispotizzjonijicl ta' Ord ni la' 1U000 k",,, ..

Prczzijiet mahro g tahl I-a n ikolu 11 la' dan I-All tk un halja ta' real OnIoIij""o'

konlra dan l-anik olu .

17, ISjew ~nali paarcMi

:ZI. (I)

10 fil .mija .. bl ~ an; k oli

20 la' dan I-An

tad-dhul min-negozju la' I-intraprita li n-int cressi ' ~';;:~t . laghha 1-

persuna hckk hatj a kienet Qed lagiui, skond liema

tkun 1-

oghla multa

li.da mela I-persun a misj uba halja la' rcal kontra I-an ikolu 20

la· dan I-All Ikun persuna li Ibicgh bl-imnut li d-dhul minn ncgozju

laghha ma jkunll ;c:tudi LmIOO,OOO dik il' persuna tehel mu lta ta' mhulI

inqas minn Lm500 iida mhulI itjc:d minn LmJ.OOO;

Iida wkoll fci n il· persuna hc kk misjuba hatja tkun id·direu ur,

managn-[ scgretarju jew uffiCjal iehor si mili la' l- int raprita fuq

imsc mm lja dik il-persun a tilqies ghaJl-finijiel la' dan I-an ikotu bhala ti

ghandha r·rappre:ic:ntanza legali ta ' I-isless int ra prita li ghalhekk tkun

responsabbli jn solidum mal -persun a halja ghall·hlas ta' I-imsemmija

mulla .

(2) II-multa msc mmija fis-subanikolu ( I) la' dan I-anikolu

tinga ba r bhala dejn Civili favur il-G vern mid-Direlt ur. u l·inu aprita li n ·

interessi e konomiti taghha I· persuna misjuba halja kienet Qed tagini

tkun responsabbli in solidum mal-persuna misjuba halja ghall -hlas ta' l-

imscmmija multa.

(3) Id-dispon zzjoniiiet ta' I-AIl dwa r il· P,obaljon ta' Matj in

U la' I.anikolu 2 1 tal-Koditi Kriminali ma ghandhomll iapplikaw ghar-

rigward tar-reati msemm ija fis-subarl ikolu ( 1) ta' da n l-anikolu.

( I) Where the Office for Fair Competition receives a Adl'drd~~' ~

complaint as is referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (I ) of section of _plaI" u.

12 it shall in the first place examine whether such complaint is admissible

or OIherwise . and where it is of the opinion that th e complaint is

inadmissible it shall not carry out the relative investigation and inform

the Commission accordingly.

(2) Where the Commission does not agree that the

complaint is inadmissible it shall inform the Director accordingly , and

the Director shall thereupon comme nce or resume the investigations.

(I ) The Commission for FairTrading may, at th e request of lnw''''

the Director or of an undertaking or of a complainant . through the

Director. take interim measures intended to suspend any restrictive

practice unde r investigation if it is urgently necessary to avoid a

situation likely to cause: serious. immediate and irrepa rable prejudice to

the interests of any undertaking, or to harm the ge neral economic

interest.

(2) Where the request is made by Ihe Directo r such request

shall be accompanied by a reasoned report stat ing the measures he

deems necessary in order to suspend the practices unde r investigation.

(3) Where the request is made by a compl ainant the

Commission shall. unless the Director has already done so when he

refers the complaint , transm it the request to ta ke interim measures to

the Director who shall draw up-a reasoned report stat ing tne measures

which he deems necessa ry in order 10 suspend the practices under

invcstiga tion.

(4) The Director sha ll submit the report to the Commission

within 15 days and shall se rve a copy of the re port by registered post to

the undertaking or association under invcstigBlton which may make

written submissiOtls to the Commission on the report within 15 days of

its recei pt: provided tha t the said periods may be abridged by the

Commission as it deems lit in the circu mstances.

(5) The Comm ission shall . within 10 da ys from the last date

on which the submissions of the undertaking o r association concerned

are due to be recei ved, by reasoned decisio n o rder any inte rim measure

it may deem appropria te in the cireumstanecs.

(6) The decisio n shall be no tified by the Secretary 10 the

Commission to the Director and to those undert akings or associations

whose act ivity is being investigat ed .

(7) An Order given under this secti on shall have immediate

effect and shall remain in fo rce for a period of three months unless it is

previously revoked by the Commission or unless the matter under

in vestigation has been determined by the Commission before the said

period of three months. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the

Commission from issuing the same Order for a further period or periods

of three months

Provided that such Order may in no case extend beyond a

maximum period of onc year.

(I)

Where the Commission declares that any agreement ,

decision or practice is in breach of the provisions of section 5 o f this Act,

any person who after such decision has been pu blished makes any act

pursu an t 10 such agreement, decision or practice shall be guilty of an

offe nce again st thi s sectio n.

(2) Any person in charge of an undertaking who has reason

to believe Ihat an agree me nt, decision or practice is in breach of

subsection ( I) of secti on 5 of this Act and acts in accordance with that

agreemen t , decIsion or practice wilhoUl first seeking the negative

clearance oft hc Director as required under subsection (I) ohection 60f

this Act, shall be guilty of an offence under this section

Provided that a person shall not be punished for an offence

under this section unless the agreement, decision or practice aforesaid

has been dedared to be in breach of the said subsection ( I) of section 5

by a decision of the Commission published in accordance with the

provisions of this Act .

(3) Where any exemption basbee n given from the provisions

of section 5 of this Act any person who acts beyond the provisions of

such exemption or does not abide by any condition therein shall be

guilty of an offence against this section.

Where any action has been declared by the Commission to be

an abuse of a dominant position in accordance with section 90f th is Act,

any person who after sucb decision has been published takes part in such

action shall be guilty of an offence against this section.

Any person who makes any act contra ry to an ordcr issued by

the Commission in accordance with section 15, aftcrsuch order has been

published, shall be guilty of an offence against this section.

..... . o f the 19. Commission

For the pUl"JXISCs of sections 16. 17 and 18 a decision or orde r

shall be deemed to have been published where it hus

been published by notice in the Gazelle, or where in re lation to any

particular individual it has becn notified to him cithcr by judicial act or

by delivery of a copy tbereof by the Director

Provided tbat where the undertaking or the person against

whom the complai nt has been made had been given notice of the

proceedings before the Commission, in relation to th at undertaking or

person the decision or order of the Commission in respect of that

complaint shall be deemed to have been publisbed on the date on whic h

it was pronounced.

Any person who contravcnes the provisions of a Price Order

issued under section 11 of this Act shall be guilty of an offence aga inst

this section .

( I) Any pct$()n guilty of an offence agai nst sections 16, 17 , l'enal,y lot

18 or 20 of this Act, shall on convictio n be li able to a fine (mu/la) of .. offences

Lm3CXXl o r 10 per ce ntum of the turnover of the undertaking in the

emnomie interests of whom the person to &u1lty was acting, whichever

is the higher

Provided thal where the pet$()n found guilty of a n offence

againsl section 20 of this Act is a relaile r with a turnove r not eiltoeeding

LrnlOO,OOO that pet$()n shall be liable 10 a fine (mu/fa) of notleu than

Lrn500 but not more than Lrn3.000;

Provided further that wh ere the person 50 found guilty is the

di rector. manage r, secre tary o r o ther similar officer of the aforesaid

undertaking the laid person shall, for Ihe PUrpo$Cs of lhis section , be

deemed to be vested with the legal representa tion of the same

undcrtakin& which accord ingly shall be liable in solidum with the person

found guilty for the payme nt of the laid fine .

(2) The fine referred to in subsecti o n ( 1) of Ihis section s halt

be recovera ble as a civil debt in favour of the Government by the

Director, and the undertaking in the economic intereSI5 of whom the

person found l uilly was acling shall be liable in solidum wilh the person

found guilty fo r lhe payment of the said fine .

(3) 'T1Ie provisioru of the Probation of Offenden Act and of c.p. Ij2.

section 21 of the Crimi nal Code shall not apply with TCSpc<1 to offences Clrf>. , .

refencd to in subsection ( I) o f this &«Iion .

(I) Any person who con travenes the proVlSlons of Offe __ .... _

s ubsections ( I) , (5) o r (8) o($«lion 60r the provisKmsofsubsections ( 1) W,,;' .hlld 10.

and (3) of section lOar the provisions of subsection (2)ofsection IOwilh

reference to subsection (5) of section 6 shall be guilly of an offence and

shall on conviction be liable to the fine cstablished in 5Ubsection (I) of

section 21.

(2) The proviskms of fhe provisos of subsection (I) and of

s ubsection (2) of section 2 1 sha ll apply to th e fine referred to in

s ubsect io n ( I) he reof.

(3) The provisions of the Probali o n of Offenden Act and of Cafo. ISl.

section 2 1 of the Cri minal Code shall not apply with respect to offe nces ~. 9.

referred 10 in subsection (I) of this section .

(4) No action for a n offence under Ihis sectio n may be

instituted without the IX)ncu rrencc of the Commission.

Any pelson who in the course of a ny investigatio n unde r this OIle"" .. I"

Act or in the course of any proceedin&5 before the Commission oonnea;"" "';I~

knowingly or r«k1cssly

(a) gjV" any false , inaccura te or misleading informaliion ; or

(b) s upplies incomplete information ; o r

(c) being an owner, director. officer, administrator or

manager of an undertaking fails, without reasonable cause, to

supply information requested within the time given ; or

(d)

prevents or hinders any investigation; o r

(e) produces or furnishes, or causes o r knowingly allows 10

be produced o r furnished . any documen t or information which he

knows to be false in any material particula r,

shall be guilty of an offence against this section and 5hall , on conviction,

be liable to a fi ne (mU/la) of not less than Lm50 and not more than

Lml ,(Xl() or 10 imprisonment for a term from three to silt months, or to

both su(:h fine and imprisonment.

(I) In criminal proceedings institu ted by the Police before

lA.

the Court of Magistrales for an offence against the provisions of this

Act, the Director may assist the Police in the conduct of the prosecution

and in the produdion of the evidence .

(2) The Director o r any officer deputed by him for the

purposes of subsection (1) may neve rtheless be produced as a wilness

but should his evidence be required as part of the case for the

prosecution, his evidence shall be heard before that of any other wi tness

for the prosecution and un less the necessity of his evidence arises

subsequently.

Notwithstandi ng Ihe provisions of the Criminal Code, the

Attorney Ge neral shall have a right of appeal to the Court of Criminal

Appeal from any judgment given by the Court of Magistrates in respect

of criminal proceeding.~ arising out of the proviSions of this Act.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Criminal Code or of

any other law, crimi nal action for offences under this Act is prescribed

by the lapse of five years.

Where before any court of civil jurisdiction il is alleged that

21. any agree ment or decision is null and unenforceable in accordance with

subsection (2) of section 5 of Ihis Act, that court shall , unless the

allegation is admitted by all the parties to the case, stay the proceedings

and refer the matter to the Commission whkh shall have the righl la

determine the question and the Coun shall decide the maller in

accordance with the decision of the Commission.

Mela quddiem xi qorti la' gurisdizzjoni tivi li jig; allegal li xi

akko rdju jew detitjoni jkunu nulli u mhux esegwibbli skond is-

subartikolu (2) la' l-artikolu 5 la' dan I-All, dik il-qorti g1'landha, kemm-

il da rba I-allegazzjoni ma tigill ammessa mill-partijicl koll ha fi) ·kai ,

lordna s-soprasessjoni lal.protedimcnti u tirreferi l-kwesljOfli lilI-

Kummissjoni li jkol1 ha d-dritt li tiddetermina I-kwcsljoni u I-Oorti

ghandha tiddetiedi I.kwcsljoni skond id-deCitjoni lal-Kummissioni _

28,

(I)

Id-derujonijiellal. Kummissjoni jkunu finali .

(2) Ma jista ' jinhareg ebda mandal kawle lalorju msemmi fiI ·

Kodic la' Orga ninanjoni u ProCedura Civili konlra I· Kummissjoni .

( I) 11H: decisions of the Commission shall be fin al.

(2) It shall nOI be lawful to issue any precautionary warrant

referred 10 in the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure against the

Commission.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act the Director

may, within the context of a reciprocity agreement in matters of mu tual

assistance relating to competition fractiees, pass documents and

disclose information in his po5 Msion 10 au thorities outside Mal ta

s

havi ng responsibility in competi tion mallers and who are restricted in

divulging such information in a n analogous mann e r and purpose to that

o f the Director under th is Act .

( 1) The provisions of this Act shall not apply to any Applkabilj,yof

Government depa rtment o r to a ny body corpo rate established by law or ~'"

to any company o r o the r partnership in whi ch Government, directly or departmeRU.etC.

indirectly, holds a con trolling inte rest until such time as the Minister

shall by O rde r in the Gazelle declare such department, corporation,

company or partnership to be so subject.

(2) Any Order made in virtue of subsection (1) of thi s sectio n

shall specify the operations of any depa rtme nt , corporatio n , company

or partners hip whi ch shall be subject to the provisio ns of this Act and

shall for the purposes of subsection (4) of sectio n 7 and of section 21

indicate the basis on which the re levant turnover is to be calculated.

No acti o n shall lie against any me mber of the Comm issio n. Attioooilo

the Director , o r any othe r person fo r a ny act or o mission done or P>dfai",.

o mitted by him unless such act or omission were done in bad faith .

Subsection (2) of secdon 5 shall no t apply to any agreement. T.-iIOi)

decision or practice legally in force immed ia tely befo re the comi ng into ", ... ision.

force of section S of lhis A ct, until the lapse of eighteen mo nths from the

coming into fo rce of the said section .