From 20–24 November 2004 officials from 34 regulatory agencies across the globe participated in the International Competition Network’s (ICN) Cartels and Leniency Workshops and the ACCC ‘Cracking Cartels’ conference held in Sydney.
The ACCC hosted the ICN workshops as part of its commitments as co-chair of the cartel enforcement techniques subgroup.
Topics included:
evidence gathering techniques and detection of cartels
cooperation and coordination in cartel cases
searches, raids and inspections
practical issues and challenges during a cartel investigation
elements of effective leniency programs
applications for leniency before and after investigations commence
disincentives and current hot issues concerning leniency
using information from a leniency applicant when conducting raids.
The Cracking Cartels conference gave Australian competition lawyers and business/industry and consumer representatives the opportunity to raise and discuss competition matters with some of the world’s leading practitioners from developed and developing jurisdictions.
It also covered the latest developments in the fight against cartels, and in particular leniency policies, which are not only very effective tools for regulators in the detection and prosecution of hard core cartels but offer significant benefits to companies who report cartels and cooperate with the regulator.
During the conference the ACCC announced the creation of a dedicated anti-cartels team. The team will focus on the strategic management of cartel investigations and prosecutions and will work with industry to raise awareness of cartel conduct in the procurement process.
The ACCC also launched a review of its leniency policy. In conjunction with this, a discussion paper was issued and is available from the ACCC’s website. Issues under consideration include:
should applications for leniency be permitted to be either oral or written
should the leniency policy provide specifically for markers
should leniency ever be granted to a person who is not the first applicant.
Regazetted mandatory standards for children’s nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard and paper patterns for children’s nightwear
The mandatory standard for children’s nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard was regazetted in Consumer Protection Notice No. 4 of 2004, published in Commonwealth of Australia Special Gazette No. S 443 of 2 November 2004, following the expiration of the old mandatory standard on 31 October 2004. The mandatory standard, based on Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1249:1999 Children’s nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard, was regazetted in its current form to allow time for it to be reviewed. This review will take into account AS/NZS 1249:2003 which was published by Standards Australia on 29 December 2003. The review is expected to be completed by June 2005.
The mandatory standard for paper patterns for children’s nightwear was regazetted in Consumer Protection Notice No. 5 of 2005, published in Commonwealth of Australia Special Gazette No. S 443 of 2 November 2004, following the expiration of the old mandatory standard on 31 October 2004. The mandatory standard for paper patterns for children’s nightwear, based on AS/NZS 1249:1999, will also be reviewed in conjunction with the review of the mandatory standard for children’s nightwear.
Copies of the new gazette notices are available from the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502.
Suppliers of children’s nightwear can obtain a copy of AS/NZS 1249:1999 or AS/NZS 1249:2003 from Standards Australia on 1300 654 646 or visit the website at www.standards.com.au.
Regazetted mandatory standard for pedal bicycles
The mandatory standard for pedal bicycles was regazetted in Consumer Protection Notice No. 6 of 2004, published in Commonwealth of Australia Special Gazette No. S 443 of 2 November 2004, following the expiration of the old mandatory standard on 31 October 2004. The mandatory standard, which is based on Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1927:1998 Pedal bicycles—safety requirements, was regazetted in its present form pending a review which is expected to be completed in June 2005.
Copies of the new gazette notice are available from the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502.
Suppliers of pedal bicycles can obtain a copy of AS/NZS 1927:1998 Pedal bicycles—safety requirements from Standards Australia on 1300 654 646 or visit the website at www.standards.com.au.
