The United Arab Emirates Government has announced a new consumer protection law, which aims to reform the country's retail sector and ensure that consumers are adequately protected and aware of their consumer rights. A Consumer Protection Department will be established within the Ministry of Economy that will have the power to enforce the new legislation. The move is seen as an important step towards preventing the creation of monopolies and increasing transparency, which will bring the country in line with World Trade Organisation requirements for increased competition.
Italy opens probe into electricity sector
The Italian Competition Authority has opened a fact-finding investigation to determine how market liberalisation is progressing in the electric power sector. The investigation, carried out jointly with the regulatory authority for electricity and gas, aims to ascertain the status of the wholesale electricity market in Italy and the competitive dynamics which govern it.
Russia charges mobile operators with collusion
Russia's three dominant mobile operators, Mobile Telesystems, VimpelCom and Megafon, have been charged with collusion. The Federal Antimonopoly Service uncovered evidence that the three companies had agreed to charge each other an inter-operator fee of 0.95 rubles per minute for incoming calls, while charging other operators 1.1 rubles per minute, disadvantaging smaller operators.
Ireland announces new consumer protection legislation
The first major piece of new consumer protection legislation in Ireland in almost 30 years has been announced. The Consumer Protection (National Consumer Agency) Bill will include bans and sanctions for 31 anti-consumer activities including pyramid selling, prize draw scams and persistent cold-calling of consumers. The new legislation, which will help to ensure that Ireland has one of the strongest and most modern consumer protections in the world, will also formally establish the new Consumer Agency, which will have the funding and powers to act on behalf of consumers.
Russia approves new Competition Law
The President of the Russian Federation has signed the Federal ‘Law on Competition Protection’. It is hoped the new legislation will combat the anti-competitive effects of many of the country's monopolies and will also significantly reduce the administrative burden on businesses. The new legislation will come into effect on 26 October 2006.
