COLLECTIVE PROCEEDINGS (COMPETITION) ACT (competition)

CHAPTER 520

COLLECTIVE PROCEEDINGS (COMPETITION) ACT

To enable the institution of collective proceedings for infringements of

laws as may from time to time be designated in accordance with the

provisions of the said Act and to provide for matters connected therewith

or incidental thereto.

1st August, 2012 *

ACT VI of 2012 , as amended by Acts XVI of 2019 and XVII of 2023.

The short title of this Act is the Collective Proceedings

(Competition) Act.

In this Act unless the context otherwise requires

"class" means a group of persons who have suffered or are

suffering harm and whose claims arise from common issues;

"class member" means a person falling within the class specified

in the collective proceedings decree;

"class representative" means the plaintiff, that is, a person who is

authorised to bring the claims in collective proceedings and

includes a sub-class representative;

"collective proceedings" means proceedings which are brought

by a class representative on behalf of persons whose claims raise

common issues and which may be instituted as a group action or a

representative action;

"collective proceedings agreement" means an agreement entered

into between the class member and the class representative

whe reby the class member consen ts t o hi s in c lu s io n in th e

collective proceedings and t o the appointment of the class

representative and includes the claim of the class member and may

also include provision for the pre-payment and, or reimbursement

of any judicial costs incurred by the class representative

Provided that every class member shall only be liable for

costs in proportion to his claim;

"collective proceedings decree" means a decree authorising the

action to proceed as collective proceedings;

"common issues" means -

(i)

common but not necessarily identical issues of fact, or

(ii)

common but not necessarily identical issues of law

that arise from common but not necessarily identical

facts;

"constituted body" means a body which is purposely set up to act

in the i nterests of i ts m emb ers an d in clud es also any b ody

recognised as a constituted body under the Malta Council for

*see article 1(2) of this Act as originally enacted, and Legal Notice 256 of 2012 .

Economic and Social Development Act, as well as any other body

of a similar nature recognised as a constituted body under any other

law or in accordance with established administrative practice;

"Court" means the Civil Court (Commercial Section) established by

article 3 of the Civil Courts (Establishment of Sections) Order;

"group action" means proceedings that are brought on behalf of a

number of individual class members and whose class representative

satisfies the criteria mentioned in article 12(2);

"individual issues" means issues that are relevant only to certain

individual represented persons;

"opt-in proceedings" means collective proceedings brought on

behalf of class members who inform the class representative as

provided in this Act that their claim should be included in the

collective proceedings;

"public authority" shall have the same meaning as defined in the

Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority Act;

"registered consumer association" means a registered consumer

association as defined in the Consumer Affairs Act and any other

consumer association that has been officially recognised in any

other country;

"representative action" means proceedings that are brought on

behalf of a number of class members by a representative body

according to article 12(1);

"represented person" means a class member who has opted into

the collective proceedings;

"TFEU" means the Treaty on the Functioning of the European

Union.

Collective proceedings may be instituted to seek the

cessation of an infringement, the rectification of the consequences of

an infringement and, or compensation for harm where

(1) an infringement of the Competition Act and, or

Articles 101 and, or 102 of the TFEU is alleged to

have occurred;

(2) an investigation initiated by the Director General in

accordance with the Competition Act and, or Articles

101 and, or 102 of the TFEU, or proceedings before a

tribunal or similar body or the Court including any

other court of civil jurisdiction, concerning an

infringement of the Competition Act and, or Articles

101 and, or 102 of the TFEU is or are still pending; or

(3) a decision or judgement establishing a breach of the

Competition Act and, or Articles 101 and, or 102 of the

TFEU, in relation to the same facts has become res

judicata..

When the class representative files a claim for damages arising

from an infringement of the Competition Act and, or Articles 101 or

102 of the TFEU, the provisions of article 27A of the Competition Act

shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(1) Collective proceedings shall be instituted by means of a

sworn application in the Court, irrespective of the amount of the claim,

and the provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure,

insofar as they are consistent with the provisions of this Act, shall

apply to proceedings under this Act.

(2) The plaintiff shall therein request that the Court declare that

the collective proceedings procedure is the most appropriate

procedure in the circumstances.

(3)

The sworn application shall -

(a) state the name of the class representative;

(b) state the name of the defendant;

(c) provide a description of the class;

(d) describe the common issues for the claims which the

class representative has brought in the collective

proceedings;

(e) state the claim or claims being requested and, if

applicable, attach a breakdown of the relative amounts

due to the class members;

(f)

provide sufficient evidence for the satisfaction of the

criteria for declaration and approval according to

articles 9 and 12; and

(g) provide the Court with a collective proceedings

agreement

Provided that the provisions of article 156 of the Code of

Organization and Civil Procedure shall, where applicable, also

apply to the sworn application in collective proceedings

Provided further that the Court shall order the amendment

of the sworn application where other class members opt- in within

the period mentioned in article 7(2) or following the permission of

the Court in terms of article 8(1) and, or where a class

representative for a sub-class has been appointed in terms of article

Il-Qorti għandha żżomm seduta preliminari tal-kawża u -

(a) jew tagħti digriet li jkun jordna t-tkomplija tal-

proċedimenti flimkien ma’ kull ordni oħra li tista’ tqis

xierqa; jew

(b) tagħti digriet biex tissospendi l-proċedimenti jekk il-

partijiet jaqblu, matul dik is-seduta, li jippruvaw

jittransiġu l-kawża permezz ta’ riżolviment alternattiv

tat-tilwimiet jew b’mezzi oħra.

(1) Il-Qorti għandha tagħti digriet dwar it-tkomplija ta’

proċedimenti jekk -

(a) hija tiddikjara li l-proċeduri jkunu xierqa għal

proċedimenti kollettivi kif hemm fl-artikolu 9;

(b) hija tapprova li l-attur jaġixxi bħala r-rappreżentant ta’

klassi kif hemm fl-artikolu 12; u

(ċ) hija tkun sodisfatta li t-talbiet ikunu konformi mal-

artikolu 3.

(2)

Id-digriet għandu jinkludi -

(a) l-isem u l-indirizz tar-rappreżentant ta’ klassi;

(b) l-isem tal-konvenut;

(ċ) deskrizzjoni tal-klassi;

(d) il-kwistjonijiet komuni għat-talbiet li r-rappreżentant

ta’ klassi ikun ippreżenta fil-proċedimenti kollettivi;

(e) it-talbiet li jkunu qegħdin isiru; u

(f)

informazzjoni dwar l-effett legali

ta’

sentenza

mogħtija fi proċedimenti kollettivi

Iżda d-digriet jista’ jkun fih ukoll dawk il-kundizzjonijiet li

l-Qorti tista’ tqis li jkunu xierqa, u l-Qorti għandha wkoll tordna li

dak id-digriet jiġi pubblikat fil-Gazzetta u f’ġurnal lokali bl-Ingliż

u bil-Malti u f ’kull mezz ieħor ta’ komunikazzjoni jekk il-Qorti

jkun jidhrilha li jkun hekk xieraq, proviżorjament a karigu tar-

rappreżentant ta’ klassi, u għandu jkun fih li kull terza persuna oħra

li tkun trid tidħol bħala membru ta’ klassi, tista’ tagħmel dan sad-

data speċifikata li tiġi determinata mill-Qorti, liema data ma tistax

taqbeż ħames xhur mid-data tad-digriet, billi tirreġistra t-talba

tagħha mar-rappreżentant ta’ klassi u billi tidħol fi ftehim dwar

proċedimenti kollettivi.

(1) Membru ta’ klassi li ma jmexxix b’għażla li jidħol kif

hemm fl-artikolu 7 ma jistax imexxi b’dan il-mod wara d-data

speċifikata, ħlief bil-permess tal-Qorti. Il-Qorti tista’ tagħti dak il-

permess jekk tkun sodisfatta li d-dewmien ma kienx kaġunat bi

ħtija tal-membru ta’ klassi u l-kontinwazzjoni tal-proċedimenti ma

jkunux ser jiġu ppreġudikati sostanzjalment li kellu jingħata l-

permess.

(2) Membru ta’ klassi li jkun diġà ppreżenta kawża li tinvolvi

l-kwistjonijiet komuni indikati fil-proċedimenti kollettivi ma jistax

ikun persuna rappreżentata kemm-il darba huwa ma jċedix jew

jagħmel rikors biex jissospendi dik il-kawza qabel ma’ jagħżel li

jidħol fil-proċedimenti kollettivi.

(3) Membru ta’ klassi ma jistax ikun persuna rappreżentata

meta

(a) jkun diġà wasal għal transazzjoni barra l-qorti, fuq il-

kwistjonijiet komuni msemmija fid-digriet tal-

procedimenti kollettivi, mal-konvenut; jew

(b) ikun diġà ngħata deċiżjoni f’arbitraġġ bejn il-membru

ta’ klassi u l-konvenut dwar ir-rimedji li l-membru ta’

klassi ried jikseb; jew

(ċ) deċiżjoni dwar il-kwistjonijiet komuni msemmija fid-

digriet tal-proċedimenti kollettivi li tkun diġà għaddiet

f’ġudikat quddiem xi tribunal jew korp simili jew qorti

ta’ ġurisdizzjoni ċivili u dak it-tribunal jew korp simili

jew qorti jkunu diġà iddeċidew dwar ir-rimedji li l-

membru ta’ klassi ried jikseb.

(1) Il-Qorti għandha tiddikjara fid-digriet tagħha li l-

proċedimenti jkunu xierqa bħala proċedimenti kollettivi meta -

(a) hija tiġi sodisfatta mir-rappreżentant ta’ klassi li t-

talbiet fil-proċedimenti -

(i)

jkunu qegħdin jiġu preżentati f’isem klassi

identifikata ta’ żewġ persuni jew aktar; u

(ii) jqajmu kwistjonijiet komuni; u

(b) hija tiġi sodisfatta mir-rappreżentant ta’ klassi li l-

proċedimenti kollettivi huma l-aktar mezz xieraq għal

riżolviment ġust u effiċjenti ta’ kwistjonijiet komuni.

(2) Meta tkun qegħda tiddeċiedi jekk il-proċedimenti kollettivi

humiex l-aktar mezz xieraq għal riżolviment ġust u effiċjenti ta’

kwistjonijiet komuni għall-finijiet tas-subartikolu (1)(b), il-Qorti

għandha tieħu kont, fost affarijiet oħra -

(a) tal-benefiċċji tal-proċedimenti kollettivi proposti; u

(b) x-xorta tal-klassi.

Il-Qorti m’għandhiex tiċħad milli tagħti digriet dwar xi

proċedimenti bħala proċedimenti kollettivi unikament minħabba xi

waħda minn dawn ir-raġunijiet li ġejjin

(a) it-talba tkun teħtieġ valutazzjoni individwali wara li

jiġu deċiżi l-kwistjonijiet komuni;

(b) it-talba jkollha x’taqsam ma’ kuntratti separati li jkunu

jinvolvu membri ta’ klassi differenti;

(ċ) l-ammont u x-xorta tad-danni mitluba jvarjaw fost il-

membri ta’ klassi differenti.

Meta l-Qorti ma tiddigrietax il-proċedimenti

bħala

proċedimenti kollettivi, il-Qorti għandha tiċħad l-azzjoni.

(1) F’azzjoni rappreżentattiva, il-Qorti għandha tapprova

għaqda ta’ konsumaturi reġistrata jew korp kostitwit biex dan

jaġixxi bħala rappreżentant ta’ klassi jekk hija sodisfatta li r-

rappreżentant ta’ klassi

(a) jkun ser jaġixxi ġustament u adegwatament fl-interessi

tal-membri ta’ klassi; u

(b) ma jkollu, għar-rigward tal-kwistjonijiet komuni għall-

membri ta’ klassi, ebda interess materjali li jkun

kunfliġġenti mal-interessi tal-membri ta’ klassi

Iżda meta azzjoni rappreżentattiva tiġi ppreżentata minn

għaqda ta’ konsumaturi reġistrata, dawk il-konsumaturi biss illi

jikkwalifikaw taħt it-tifsira ta’ ‘konsumatur’ fl-artikolu 2 tal-Att

dwar l-Affarijiet tal-Konsumatur ikunu eliġibbli bħala membri ta’

klassi.

(2) F’azzjoni ta’ grupp, il-Qorti tista’ tapprova li l-attur jaġixxi

bħala r-rappreżentant ta’ klassi jekk l-attur jissodisfaha li huwa -

(a) għandu talba li tinkwadra fi ħdan il-proċedimenti

kollettivi proposti;

(b) jkun ser jaġixxi ġustament u adegwatament fl-interessi

tal-membri ta’ klassi; u

(ċ) ma jkollu, għar-rigward tal-kwistjonijiet komuni għall-

membri ta’ klassi, ebda interess materjali li jkun

kunfliġġenti mal-interessi tal-membri ta’ klassi.

(1) Ir-rappreżentant ta’ klassi għandu jaġixxi fl-aħjar

interessi tal-membri ta’ klassi.

(2) Ir-rappreżentant ta’ klassi għandu jispjega lill-membri ta’

klassi x-xorta tal-proċedimenti kollettivi u għandu wkoll

iżommhom infurmati bil-progress tal-proċedimenti inkluża kull

sentenza jew digriet li jorbot lil dawk il-membri ta’ klassi jew

membri ta’ sotto-klassi u, fejn dan ikun japplika, jekk ikunx se

jappella mis-sentenza mogħtija mill-Qorti.

(3) Ir-rappreżentant ta’ klassi għandu jżomm u jieħu ħsieb

reġistru fejn iniżżel l-identità u t-talbiet ta’ dawk il-membri ta’

klassi li jkunu jikkostitwixxu parti mill-proċedimenti kollettivi u

għandu, wara li ssirlu talba, jagħmel dak ir-reġistru disponibbli lill-

konvenut.

(4) Jekk f’xi waqt wara li l-Qorti tkun tat id-digriet tagħha li

jkun jordna t-tkomplija ta’ proċedimenti, il-Qorti jkun jidhrilha li r-

rappreżentant ta’ klassi ma jibqax jissodisfa il-kriterji imsemmija

fl-artikolu 12 jew ma jibqax, għal xi raġuni oħra, f ’pożizzjoni li

jirrappreżenta l-interessi tal-persuni rappreżentati, il-Qorti tista’,

jew fuq inizjattiva tagħha stess jew wara li jsirilha rikors minn

membru ta’ klassi -

(a) tissostitwixxi r-rappreżentant ta’ klassi b’persuna oħra

li tissodisfa l-kriterji ta’ approvazzjoni fl-artikolu 12

bħala r-rappreżentant ta’ klassi; u, jew

(b) tagħti kull ordni oħra li tqis li tkun xieraq.

(5) Rappreżentant ta’ klassi jista’ biss jirtira bħala parti fil-

proċedimenti kollettivi jekk jingħata permess mill-Qorti li jirtira.

Il-Qorti tagħti biss permess għall-irtirar jekk hi sodisfatta li r-

rappreżentant ta’ klassi -

(a) jkun innotifika r-rikors lill-membri ta’ klassi b’mod u

manjiera li jkunu approvati mill-Qorti; u

(b) ikun issodisfa l-kundizzjonijiet illi l-Qorti setgħet

imponiet.

(6) Jekk il-Qorti tagħti permess lir-rappreżentant ta’ klassi biex

dan jirtira mill-proċedimenti u ma jiġi approvat ebda rappreżentant

ta’ klassi sostitut, il-Qorti għandha tagħti ordnijiet dwar kif

għandhom jitmexxew il-proċedimenti aktar ’il quddiem u dan jista’

jinkludi provvediment li l-proċedimenti għandhom ikomplu bħala

proċediment wieħed jew aktar proċedimenti bejn partijiet

differenti.

6. The Court shall hold a pre-trial hearing and -

(a) either issue a decree ordering the continuation of the

proceedings together with other orders as it may deem

fit; or

(b) issue a decree to stay the proceedings if the parties

agree, during the hearing, to attempt to compromise

the lawsuit by alternative dispute resolution or other

means.

7. (1) The

Court

shall

decree

the

continuation

of

proceedings if

(a) it declares the proceedings as appropriate for

collective proceedings in accordance with article 9;

(b) it approves the plaintiff to act as the class

representative in accordance with article 12; and

(c) it is satisfied that the claims are pursuant to article 3.

(2)

The decree shall include -

(a) the name and address of the class representative;

(b) the name of the defendant;

(c) a description of the class;

(d) the common issues for the claims which the class

representative has brought in the collective

proceedings;

(e) the claims sought; and

(f)

information on the legal effect of a judgment in the

collective proceedings

Provided that the decree may also contain such conditions

as the Court may deem fit and the Court shall order that such

decree is to be published in the Gazette and in a local English and

Maltese newspaper and in any other media if the Court deems it fit,

provisionally at the expense of the class representative, and shall

state that any other third parties who desire to be class members,

may do so within a specified date as determined by the Court,

which date may not exceed five months from the date of the decree,

by registering their claim with the class representative and entering

into a collective proceedings agreement.

8. (1) A class member who does not opt-in in accordance

with article 7 may not do so after the specified date, except with the

permission of the Court. The Court may grant such permission if it

is satisfied that the delay was not caused by the fault of that class

member and the continuation of the proceedings would not suffer

substantial prejudice if permission were granted.

(2) A class member who has already filed a cause that raises

the common issues in the collective proceedings may not be a

represented person unless he discontinues or applies to stay that

cause before opting-in the collective proceedings.

(3) A class member may also not be a represented person

where

(a) he has already reached an out of court settlement on

the common issues set out in the collective

proceedings decree with the defendant; or

(b) an arbitration decision between the class member and

the defendant has already been issued on the remedies

sought by the class member; or

(c) a decision on the common issues set out in the

collective proceedings decree has already become res

judicata before a tribunal or similar body or court of

civil jurisdiction and the said tribunal or similar body

or court has already decided on the remedies sought by

the class member.

9. (1) The Court shall decree the proceedings as appropriate

for collective proceedings when -

(a) it is satisfied by the class representative that the claims

in the proceedings -

(i)

are brought on behalf of an identified class of

two or more persons; and

(ii) raise common issues; and

(b) it is satisfied by the class representative that the

collective proceedings are the most appropriate means

for the fair and efficient resolution of the common

issues.

(2) In determining whether the collective proceedings are the

most appropriate means for the fair and efficient resolution of the

common issues for the purposes of sub-article (1)(b), the Court will

take into account, amongst other things -

(a) the benefits of the proposed collective proceedings;

and

(b) the nature of the class.

10. The court shall not refuse to decree proceedings as

collective proceedings solely on any of the following grounds

(a) the claim requires individual assessment

after

determination of the common issues;

(b) the claim relates to separate contracts involving

different class members;

(c) the amount and nature of the damages sought vary

among the different class members.

11. Where the Court does not decree the proceedings as

collective proceedings, the Court shall dismiss the action.

12. (1) In a representative action, the Court shall approve a

registered consumer association or a constituted body to act as a

class representative, if it is satisfied that the class representative -

(a) would fairly and adequately act in the interests of the

class members; and

(b) does not have, in relation to the common issues for the

class members, a material interest that is in conflict

with the interests of the class members

Provided that when a representative action is brought by a

registered consumer association, only consumers qualifying within

the definition of ‘consumer’ in article 2 of the Consumer Affairs

Act shall be eligible to be class members.

(2) In a group action, the Court may approve the plaintiff to act

as the class representative if it is satisfied by the plaintiff that he -

(a) has a claim which falls within the proposed collective

proceedings;

(b) would fairly and adequately act in the interests of the

class members; and

(c) does not have, in relation to the common issues for the

class members, a material interest that is in conflict

with the interests of the class members.

13. (1) The class representative shall act in the best interests

of the class members.

(2) The class representative shall explain to the class members

the nature of the collective proceedings and shall also keep them

inform ed on the progress of the proceedings including any

judgment or decree that is binding on those class members or sub-

class members and, if applicable, on whether he shall appeal from

the judgement delivered by the Court.

(3) The class representative shall keep and maintain a register

on which he will record the identity and claims of those class

members who are part of the collective proceedings and shall, on

request, make such register available to the defendant.

(4) If at any time after the Court’s decree ordering the

continuation of proceedings, it appears to the Court that the class

representative no longer satisfies the criteria mentioned in article

12 or is no longer, for any other reason, in a position to represent

the interests of the represented persons, the Court may, either of its

own initiative or on the application of a class member -

(a) substitute the class representative by another person

who satisfies the criteria for approval in article 12 as

the class representative; and, or

(b) make any other order it considers appropriate.

(5) A class representative may only withdraw as a party to the

collective proceedings if the Court gives permission for the

withdrawal. The Court will only give permission for the withdrawal

if it is satisfied that the class representative -

(a) has given notice of the application to withdraw to the

class members in a form and manner that is approved

by the Court; and

(b) has satisfied the conditions that the Court may have

imposed.

(6) If the Court gives permission for the class representative to

withdraw from the proceedings and no substitute class

representative is approved, the Court shall give directions for the

future conduct of the proceedings which may include provision that

the proceedings shall continue as one or more proceedings between

different parties.

14. If the represented persons include a sub-class of persons

whose claims raise common issues that are not shared by all the

represented persons, the Court may approve a person who satisfies

the criteria for approval in article 12 to act as the class

representative for that sub-class if it consideres that this shall be

conducive for the efficient management of the claims.

(1) Subject to article 16, in collective proceedings -

(a) common issues for a class shall be determined

together;

(b) common issues for a sub-class shall be determined

together; and

(c) individual issues shall be determined in further

hearings.

(2) If the Court directs that the participation of individual

represented persons is necessary in order to determine individual

issues, the class representative shall give notice of the further

hearings to those individual represented persons as directed by the

Court.

(3) The Court may give directions for the procedures to follow

in the further hearings referred to in sub-article (1)(c) including

setting a time within which individual represented persons may

make claims in respect of the individual issues.

(4) The Court may give judgment in respect of the common

issues and separate judgments in respect of any other issue.

The Court, on the application of a party or class member,

may issue any decree it considers appropriate with respect to the

conduct of collective proceedings to ensure its fair and expeditious

determination and, for this purpose, may impose such terms on the

parties as it considers appropriate.

The Court, on its own initiative or on the application of a

party or class member, may stay any proceeding related to the

collective proceedings before it, on such terms as it considers

appropriate.

(1) A judgment on the common issues for the represented

persons or a sub-class of represented persons will bind the

represented persons, or those within the sub-class, as the case may

be.

(2) The class representative shall give notice of any judgment

or decree to those represented persons who are bound by it in a

form and manner that is approved by the Court.

(3) Where in its judgement, the Court orders the defendant to

pay compensation, it may order the defendant to credit the amount

due to a specific account held by the class representative and may

give such orders, as it deems necessary, to the class representative

for the effective distribution of that compensation among the class

members.

(1) A class representative may not compromise or

discontinue all or part of a claim in collective proceedings without

the permission of the Court.

COLLECTIVE PROCEEDINGS (COMPETITION)

(2) The application for permission made under subarticle (1)

shall -

(a) set out the form and manner by which the class

representative proposes to give notice to the

represented persons of the intention to compromise or

discontinue all or part of a claim in the collective

proceedings; and

(b) in the case of an application to compromise, set out the

terms of the proposed compromise.

(3) On receipt of an application made under subarticle (1), the

Court will -

(a) set a date for a hearing to determine whether to

approve the compromise or discontinuance; and

(b) issue a decree for the giving of the notice referred to in

sub-article (2)(a).

(1) A represented person who objects to the compromise

may, with the permission of the Court, be omitted from the

compromise.

(2) At the hearing to determine the application for permission

to compromise or withdrawal, the Court may -

(a) approve the compromise or discontinuance on terms it

considers to be appropriate;

(b) refuse to approve a compromise unless the

compromise provides an opportunity for represented

persons to notify the class representative that they are

to be omitted from it and sets out the manner and time

by which that notification is to be made; or

(c) order that represented persons be given an opportunity

to notify the class representative that they are to be

omitted from a compromise and the manner and time

by which that notification is to be made.

(3) A compromise approved by the Court binds every

represented person, or every represented person within the sub-

class, as the case may be, except -

(a) those who have obtained permission of the Court

under sub-article (1) to be omitted from it; and

(b) those who have notified the class representative, in

accordance with sub-article (2)(b) or (c), that they are

to be omitted from it.

(4) If the Court approves the compromise or discontinuance,

the class representative shall give notice of its approval, in a form

and manner that is approved by the Court, to the represented

persons.

(5) If one or more of the represented persons are to be omitted

from the compromise, the Court shall give directions for the future

conduct of the proceedings which may include provision that the

proceedings shall continue as one or more proceedings between

different parties and, for that purpose -

(a) order the addition, removal or substitution of parties;

(b) order the amendment of the sworn application; or

(c) make any other order that it considers appropriate.

(1) The provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil

Procedure relating to appeals from judgements and decrees of the

Civil Court, First Hall shall mutatis mutandis apply to appeals from

judgements and decrees delivered under this Act.

(2) A party may appeal to the Court of Appeal from a decree

declaring the proceedings as collective proceedings only with leave

of the Court and article 229(3) of the Code of Organization and

Civil Procedure shall apply in respect thereof.

(3) An appeal from a judgement of the Court on behalf of the

class or sub-class may only be filed by a class representative

Provided that if a class representative does not appeal, any

class member may file an application to the Court of Appeal, either

during the time-limit allowed for the appeal or within ten days

following the lapse of the said time-limit, for leave to act as the

class representative to file an appeal.

The period of prescription applicable to a claim for

dam age s is in terru pt ed in favo ur o f a cl ass m em ber on th e

commencement of the collective proceedings but that interruption

shall be deemed inoperative if he withdraws from the collective

proceedings.

(1) Subject to sub-article (2), costs may be awarded in

favour or against the class representative, but may not be awarded

in favour of or against a represented person who is not the class

representative.

(2) If the Court has approved the appointment of a class

representative for a sub-class, costs associated with the

determination of the common issues for the sub-class may be

awarded in favour of or against that person, and not the class

representative for the whole class.

(3) Costs associated with the determination of individual issues

in accordance with article 15 may be awarded in favour of or

against the relevant individual represented persons.

(4) A registered consumer association is exempted from the

payment of Court registry fees according to Schedule A, Tariff A of

the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure upon the filing of

collective proceedings.

(5) In the event that the Court finds against the class

representative that is a registered consumer association, the Court

shall reduce court registry fees against the class representative by

between one tenth and one half of the fees normally due, taking

into account the economic standing of the class representative and

the legal reasons for finding against the class representative.

(6)

Where the Court finds that the collective proceedings are

frivolous or vexatious, the Court may award increased registry

costs up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred euro (€2,500)

against the class representative

Provided that where the class representative is a registered

consumer association, it may only be ordered to pay the full costs.

(7) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act, the parties

shall be subject to the provisions of Schedule A of the Code of

Organization and Civil Procedure.

The Prime Minister may from time to time make regulations

for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act, and may in

particular without prejudice to the generality hereof, extend the

application of article 12(1) to other representative bodies.

Schedule A

Repealed by Act XVII.2023.60.