Competition
(Jersey) Law 2005
A LAW to promote competition in the
supply of goods and services in Jersey.
Adopted by the
States 23rd June 2004
Sanctioned by
Order of Her Majesty in Council 9th February 2005
Registered by the
Royal Court 18th
February 2005
THE STATES, subject to the sanction of Her Most Excellent Majesty in Council, have
adopted the following Law –
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
1 General
interpretation
In this Law, unless the context otherwise requires –
“anti-competitive arrangement” has the meaning given to that expression by Article 8(3);
“arrangement” means any type of arrangement, agreement, and understanding,
and in respect of an arrangement made by undertakings includes a decision by an
association of undertakings and a concerted practice involving undertakings;
“Authority” means the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority
established by the Competition Regulatory
Authority (Jersey) Law 2001;[1]
“business”
includes any economic activity, trade or profession whether or not carried on
for profit;
“commercial entity” means a company, the States, a Committee of the States and a
body created by Act of the States;
“Committee” means the Economic Development Committee;
“company”
means a body corporate incorporated with or without limited liability in any
part of the world;
“Court”
means the Royal Court;
“direction” means a direction given by the Authority in accordance with Article 36,
37, 38 or 40;
“director”,
in respect of a commercial entity, means a person occupying the position of a
director in the entity by whatever name he or she is called, and if the affairs
of a commercial entity are managed by its members shall be taken to include a
member of the entity;
“document”
includes information recorded in any form and, in relation to information
recorded otherwise than in legible form, references to its provision or
production include references to providing or producing a copy of the
information in legible form;
“group”,
in relation to a company, means that company, any other company that is its
holding company or subsidiary and any other company that is a subsidiary of the
holding company;
“hinder”,
in respect of competition, means prevent, restrict or distort competition, or,
in each case, attempt to do so;
“holding company” has the meaning given to that expression by Article 2
of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991;[2]
“land agreement” means any agreement relating to land
and includes a land purchase and sale agreement, a mortgage of land and an
agreement to lease land;
“make an arrangement” includes “enter into an understanding”;
“merger”
and “acquisition” have the meaning given to those expressions by Article 2;
“officer”,
in respect of a commercial entity, means –
(a) a
person who is a director, manager, secretary or other similar position within
the entity; or
(b) any
person purporting to act in any such capacity;
“prescribed” means prescribed by an Order made by the Committee;
“price”
includes any charge, discount or margin or any other element of a price;
“publish”,
in respect of any information, means publish in a manner that is likely to
bring the information or how the information may be obtained to the attention
of the public;
“relevant competition or regulatory
authority”, in relation to a country or
territory outside Jersey, means an authority discharging in that country or
territory competition or regulatory functions corresponding to those of the
Authority;
“services”
includes any benefits, advices, privileges or facilities that are, or are to
be, provided, granted or conferred in the course of business;
“States Authority” means –
(a) a
body corporate established for a purpose of the States by or under a Law; or
(b) a
company in which the States, a Committee of the States or a body corporate
referred to in sub-paragraph (a) has a controlling interest;
“subsidiary”, in relation to a company, has the meaning given to that
expression by Article 2 of the Companies
(Jersey) Law 1991;[3]
“supply”
includes –
(a) in
relation to goods – supply (including re-supply) by way of sale,
exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase; and
(b) in
relation to services – provide, grant or confer;
“undertaking” means a person who is carrying on a business and includes an
association, whether or not incorporated, that consists of or includes such
persons.
2 “Mergers”
and “acquisitions” defined
(1) A merger
or acquisition occurs for the purposes of this Law if –
(a) 2
or more undertakings that were previously independent of one another merge; or
(b) a
person who controls an undertaking acquires direct or indirect control of the
whole or part of another one.
(2) Control
in relation to an undertaking is to be taken to exist if decisive influence is
capable of being exercised with regard to the activities of the undertaking.
(3) In
determining if that influence exists all the circumstances are to be taken into
account and not just the legal effect of any instrument, deed, transfer,
assignment or other act done or made.
(4) A
merger or acquisition also occurs for the purposes of this Law if –
(a) an undertaking
acquires the whole or a substantial part of the assets of another undertaking;
and
(b) the
result of the acquisition is to place the acquiring undertaking in a position
to replace or substantially replace the other undertaking in the business in
which that undertaking was engaged immediately before the acquisition.
(5) A
merger or acquisition also occurs for the purposes of this Law on the creation
of a joint venture being a business activity –
(a) carried
on jointly by 2 or more persons, whether or not in partnership; or
(b) carried
on by a company formed by 2 or more persons to enable them to carry on that
activity jointly by means of their joint control of the company or by means of
their ownership of shares in the capital of the company.
3 Power
to vary definitions by Regulations
(1) The
States may by Regulations amend the definitions and ancillary provisions in Articles 1
and 2.
(2) Regulations
under this Article may contain such transitional, incidental, consequential or
supplementary provisions as the States thinks necessary or expedient and such provisions
may have retrospective effect where so prescribed.
4 Application
to the States and to bodies created or controlled by the States
This Law applies to the States, a Committee of the States, a body
created by Act of the States and to any States Authority in so far as the
States, Committee, body or States Authority is carrying on a business but it
does not apply to the States or such a Committee, body or States Authority when
acting in any other capacity.
5 Employment
contracts exempted
Nothing in this Law applies to bona fide
arrangements involving employers and employees relating to contracts of
employment.
6 Saving
of customary law relating to restraint of trade
This Law does not affect the operation of the customary law relating
to restraint of trade in so far as it is capable of operating concurrently with
this Law.
7 Authority
may publish guidelines
(1) The
Authority may publish in such manner as it considers most appropriate a
guideline on any aspect of this Law.
(2) A
guideline may be prepared by the Authority or may be a document prepared by
another person with the approval of the Authority.
(3) If
it is a document prepared by another person it may be published with deletions,
amendments and additions made by the Authority.
(4) Before
publishing a guideline the Authority may consult any person with an interest or
concern in respect of the relevant aspect of this Law.
(5) Proof
that a person has failed to comply with a guideline published in respect of a
requirement of this Law is not proof that the person has failed to comply with
that requirement.
(6) However
in proceedings where it is alleged that a person has failed to comply with a
requirement of this Law –
(a) proof
of a failure to comply with a guideline published by the Authority in respect
of the requirement may be relied upon as tending to establish non-compliance
with the requirement; and
(b) proof
of compliance with the guideline may be relied upon as tending to establish
compliance with the requirement.
PART 2
PROHIBITION OF ANTI-COMPETITIVE
ARRANGEMENTS
8 Prohibition
on hindering competition
(1) Except
as otherwise provided by this Part, an undertaking must not make an arrangement
with one or more other undertakings that has the object or effect of hindering
to an appreciable extent competition in the supply of goods or services within Jersey
or any part of Jersey.
(2) Paragraph (1)
applies, in particular, to an arrangement if its object or effect is to –
(a) directly
or indirectly fix purchase or selling prices or any other trading conditions;
(b) limit
or control production, markets, technical development, or investment;
(c) share
markets or sources of supply;
(d) apply
dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions with other trading parties,
thereby placing them at a competitive disadvantage;
(e) make
the conclusion of contracts subject to acceptance by the other parties of
supplementary obligations which, by their nature or according to commercial
usage, have no connection with the subject of such contracts.
(3) An
arrangement prohibited by paragraph (1) is in this Law referred to as an
anti-competitive arrangement.
(4) An
arrangement is void to the extent that it is, or contains or is tainted by an
anti-competitive arrangement.
(5) The
fact that an arrangement may have no legal effect, does not bind the parties to
it or could not be enforced by action in any court or by any other means does
not prevent the arrangement being prohibited by paragraph (1).
(6) An
arrangement may be prohibited by paragraph (1) although not
every party to it is an undertaking so long as at least 2 are.
9 Authority
may grant exemptions
(1) The
Authority may exempt from Article 8(1) an arrangement to which that
Article would otherwise apply.
(2) An
application for an exemption may be made to the Authority by any party to the
arrangement.
(3) The
Authority shall not grant the exemption unless it has satisfied itself that
having regard to any relevant circumstances the arrangement –
(a) is
likely to improve the production or distribution of goods or services, or to
promote technical or economic progress in the production or distribution of
goods or services;
(b) will
allow consumers of those goods or services a fair share of any resulting
benefit;
(c) does
not impose on the undertakings concerned terms that are not indispensable to
the attainment of the objectives mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b);
and
(d) does
not afford the undertakings concerned the ability to eliminate competition in
respect of a substantial part of the goods or services in question.
(4) To
satisfy itself for the purpose of paragraph (3) the Authority –
(a) must
publish details of the application; and
(b) must
consider any representations made to it within any reasonable period to be specified
by the Authority when it publishes details of the application.
(5) The
Authority must publish notice of an exemption it grants under this Article.
(6) The
Authority may grant an exemption under this Article –
(a) subject
to compliance with such conditions and obligations; and
(b) for
such period,
as it considers appropriate, which it shall specify in the
exemption.
(7) An
exemption may be granted so as to have effect from a date earlier than that on
which it is granted.
(8) The
Authority may on the application to it of a party to the arrangement extend the
period of validity of an exemption on any terms it considers appropriate.
(9) The
Authority may in any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (10) –
(a) cancel
an exemption;
(b) vary
or remove a condition or obligation of an exemption;
(c) impose
one or more conditions or obligations in respect of an exemption.
(10) Those
circumstances are –
(a) the
Authority has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a material
change in the circumstances since the exemption was granted;
(b) the
Authority has reasonable grounds to suspect that the information on which it
based its decision to grant the exemption was incomplete, false or misleading
in a material particular;
(c) there
has been a failure to comply with a condition or obligation of the exemption.
(11) The
Authority must publish notice of any action it takes under paragraph (8)
or (9).
(12) An
exemption granted under this Article ceases to have effect if a condition or
obligation of it is breached.
(13) The
Authority may take action under paragraph (9) of its own volition or on a
complaint made by any person.
(14) The
Authority must not grant an exemption in respect of an arrangement except on an
application made to it in accordance with this Article.
(15) A
reference in this Article to an arrangement includes, where appropriate, a
proposed arrangement.
10 Block
exemptions
(1) The
Committee may, after consulting the Authority, by Order exempt from Article 8(1)
a class of arrangements to which that Article would otherwise apply.
(2) When
advising the Committee, the Authority shall, in particular, advise it whether
in the Authority’s opinion the exemption of the class of arrangements –
(a) is
likely to improve the production or distribution of goods or services, or to
promote technical or economic progress in the production or distribution of
goods or services;
(b) will
allow consumers of those goods or services a fair share of any resulting
benefit;
(c) does
not impose on the undertakings concerned terms that are not indispensable to
the attainment of the objectives mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b);
and
(d) does
not afford the undertakings concerned the ability to eliminate competition in
respect of a substantial part of the goods or services in question.
(3) Before
advising the Committee the Authority must –
(a) publish
a draft of the advice it intends to give; and
(b) consider
any representations made to it within any reasonable period to be specified by
the Authority when it publishes its draft advice.
(4) The
Authority must publish the advice it gives to the Committee.
(5) An
Order made under this Article may –
(a) impose
conditions or obligations subject to which an exemption granted by the Order is
to have effect;
(b) contain
different provisions for different classes of arrangements;
(c) provide
that a breach of a condition imposed by the Order has the effect of cancelling
the exemption in respect of the relevant arrangement;
(d) provide
that if there is a failure to comply with an obligation imposed by the Order,
the Authority may cancel the exemption in respect of the relevant arrangement;
(e) provide
that if the Authority considers that a particular arrangement is not one to
which paragraph (2) applies, it may declare that the exemption does not
apply to the arrangement;
(f) provide
for the manner in which the Authority may cancel an exemption in accordance
with sub-paragraph (c) or (d) or issue a declaration in accordance with
paragraph (e) and the manner in which notice of the cancellation or
declaration is to be published;
(g) provide
for an exemption to have effect from a date earlier than the date on which the
Order was made;
(h) provide
that the Order or any provision of it is to cease to have effect at the end of
a period specified in the Order.
11 Small
undertakings exemption
(1) The
Committee may, after consulting the Authority, by Order, exempt from the scope
of Article 8(1) small undertakings, as prescribed by the Order.
(2) The
Order may prescribe what constitutes a small undertaking by reference, for
example, to –
(a) turnover,
earnings, market share or similar measures; or
(b) number
of employees.
(3) An
Order made under this Article may –
(a) impose
conditions or obligations subject to which an exemption granted by the Order is
to have effect;
(b) contain
different provisions for different types of undertakings or different economic
activities;
(c) provide
that a breach of a condition imposed by the Order has the effect of cancelling
the exemption in respect of the relevant undertaking;
(d) provide
that if there is a failure to comply with an obligation imposed by the Order
the Authority may cancel the exemption in respect of the relevant undertaking;
(e) provide
that if the Authority considers that a particular undertaking is not one to
which the Order applies it may with the approval of the Committee make a
declaration to that effect;
(f) provide
for the manner in which the Authority may cancel an exemption in accordance
with sub-paragraph (c) or (d) or issue a declaration in accordance with
sub-paragraph (e) and the manner in which notice of the cancellation or
declaration is to be published;
(g) provide
for an exemption to have effect from a date earlier than the date on which the
Order was made;
(h) provide
that the Order or any provision of it is to cease to have effect at the end of
a period specified in the Order.
(4) An
Order made under this Article has no effect if the object or effect of the
arrangement is to –
(a) directly
or indirectly fix purchase or selling prices or any other trading conditions;
(b) limit
or control production, markets, technical development, or investment; or
(c) share
markets or sources of supply.
(5) Where
a small undertaking prescribed by an Order made under this Article is a party
to an arrangement mentioned in Article 8(1) the arrangement is void unless
all the parties to it are also so prescribed.
(6) When,
in accordance with paragraph (1), the Committee consults the Authority the
Authority must publish the advice it gives to the Committee.
12 Exemption
by Committee on grounds of public policy (Part 2)
(1) The
Committee may, after consulting the Authority, exempt an arrangement from Article 8(1).
(2) The
Committee shall not do so unless it is has satisfied itself that there are exceptional
and compelling reasons of public policy that make it desirable to do so.
(3) When,
in accordance with paragraph (1), the Committee consults the Authority on
a proposed exemption –
(a) the
Authority must publish the advice it gives to the Committee; and
(b) the
Committee must publish its reasons for granting or refusing to grant the
exemption, as the case may be.
13 Land agreement exemptions (Part 2)
The Committee may exempt a prescribed land agreement from Article 8(1).
14 Group
exclusion
Article 8(1) does not apply to an arrangement if all the
parties to it are, directly or indirectly, under the control of the same
undertaking.
15 Mergers
and acquisitions excluded
An arrangement is not an anti-competitive arrangement in so far as
it is entered into for the purpose of or as part of a merger or acquisition.
PART 3
ABUSE OF DOMINANT POSITION
16 Abuse
of dominant market position
(1) Except
as otherwise provided by this Part, any abuse by one or more undertakings of a
dominant position in trade for any goods or services in Jersey or in any part
of Jersey is prohibited.
(2) An
abuse of a dominant position may, in particular, consist in –
(a) directly
or indirectly imposing unfair purchase or selling prices or other unfair
trading conditions;
(b) limiting
production, markets or technical development to the prejudice of consumers;
(c) applying
dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions with other trading parties and
thereby placing them at a competitive disadvantage;
(d) making
the conclusion of contracts subject to acceptance by the other parties of
supplementary obligations that by their nature or according to commercial usage
have no connection with the subject of the contracts.
(3) For
the purpose of this Article an abuse of a dominant position may consist of a
failure or refusal to do something.
17 Mergers
and acquisitions excluded
A merger or an acquisition involving an undertaking having a
dominant position in a market is not an abuse of that dominant position
contrary to Article 16(1).
18 Exemption
by Committee on grounds of public policy (Part 3)
(1) The
Committee may, after consulting the Authority, exempt an undertaking or
undertakings from Article 16(1).
(2) The
Committee shall not do so unless it is has satisfied itself that there are
exceptional and compelling reasons of public policy that make it desirable to
do so.
(3) When,
in accordance with paragraph (1), the Committee consults the Authority on
a proposed exemption –
(a) the
Authority must publish the advice it gives to the Committee; and
(b) the
Committee must publish its reasons for granting or refusing to grant the
exemption, as the case may be.
19 Land agreement exemptions (Part 3)
The Committee may exempt a prescribed undertaking or undertakings
from Article 16(1) in respect of any prescribed land agreement.
PART 4
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
20 Certain
mergers or acquisitions not to be executed without approval
(1) A
person must not execute a merger or acquisition of a type prescribed by an
Order made under paragraph (3) except with and in accordance with the
approval of the Authority.
(2) If
there is a breach of paragraph (1) –
(a) where
any party to the merger or acquisition is a company incorporated in Jersey, the
title to any shares in the company shall not pass in accordance with the terms
of the merger or acquisition; and
(b) the
title of any property in Jersey shall not pass in accordance with the terms of
the merger or acquisition.
(3) The
Committee may, after consulting the Authority, by Order, prescribe the types of
mergers and acquisitions to which paragraph (1) shall apply.
(4) When,
in accordance with paragraph (3), the Committee consults the Authority the
Authority must publish the advice it gives to the Committee.
21 Application
for approval for merger or acquisition
(1) An
application for approval for the purpose of Article 20(1) must –
(a) be
made at the time and in such form as the Authority may from time to time
determine;
(b) contain
or be accompanied by such information and documents as the Authority may
require relating to the merger or acquisition, the persons involved in it and
their businesses, in each case verified in such manner as the Authority may
require; and
(c) be
accompanied by an undertaking in a form approved by the Authority to pay the Authority’s
reasonable fees or costs in connection with the application, whether or not it
is successful.
(2) At
any time after receiving an application and before determining it the Authority
may request the applicant to provide additional information or documents the
Authority may need to enable it to determine the application, verified in such
manner as the Authority may require.
22 Grant
or refusal of approval
(1) On
an application under Article 21(1), the Authority may either approve the
merger or acquisition, with or without attaching conditions or may refuse to
approve it.
(2) The
Authority’s approval must be given in writing and must contain any
conditions attached to it.
(3) Those
conditions may be of a continuing nature and, if expressed to be so, shall be
binding on and enforceable against –
(a) a
party to the merger or acquisition;
(b) any
commercial entity formed as a result of the merger or acquisition; or
(c) a
director or other officer of a party or entity mentioned in
sub-paragraph (a) or (b).
(4) The
Authority may refuse to approve a merger or acquisition if it is satisfied that
the merger or acquisition would substantially lessen competition in Jersey or
any part of Jersey.
(5) The
Authority may also refuse to approve a merger or acquisition if any information
or document it has requested in connection with the application for the
approval is not provided to it within a reasonable time of being requested.
(6) The
Authority’s refusal must be given in writing and must specify the reasons
for the refusal.
(7) The
Authority must publish a decision it makes under this Article.
23 Exemption
by Committee on grounds of public policy (Part 4)
(1) The
Committee may, after consulting the Authority, exempt a merger or acquisition of
a type prescribed by an Order made under Article 20(3) from the
requirement that it be approved by the Authority before execution.
(2) The
Committee shall not do so unless it is has satisfied itself that there are
exceptional and compelling reasons of public policy that make it desirable to
do so.
(3) When,
in accordance with paragraph (1), the Committee consults the Authority on
a proposed exemption –
(a) the
Authority must publish the advice it gives to the Committee; and
(b) the
Committee must publish its reasons for granting or refusing to grant the
exemption, as the case may be.
24 Land
agreement exemptions (Part 4)
The Committee may exempt a prescribed merger or acquisition of a
type prescribed by an Order made under Article 20(3) from the requirement
that it be approved by the Authority before execution where the merger or
acquisition is in respect of a prescribed land agreement.
25 Offence
of providing false information
A person who, in connection with an application under Article 21(1),
knowingly or recklessly provides the Authority with information that is false
or misleading in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence and liable
to a fine.
PART 5
INVESTIGATIONS
26 Authority
may conduct investigations
(1) The
Authority may conduct an investigation if it has reasonable cause to suspect
that a person –
(a) is in breach of Article 8(1), 16(1)
or 20(1) or of a direction; or
(b) intends to breach
Article 20(1) (executing a prescribed merger or acquisition without the
approval of the Authority or otherwise than in accordance with the approval of
the Authority).
(2) The
Authority may also conduct an investigation if it has reasonable cause to do so
in order to comply with a request made by the Committee under Article 6(4)
of the Competition Regulatory Authority
(Jersey) Law 2001[4] for a report, advice,
assistance or information.
27 General
power to require provision of information and documents
(1) If Article 26
applies the Authority may serve a written notice on –
(a) a person mentioned in
Article 26(1); or
(b) any other person that
appears to the Authority to be in possession of relevant information or
documents.
(2) The
notice may require the person upon whom it is served to do both or either of
the things mentioned in paragraph (3).
(3) Those
things are –
(a) to provide to the
Authority within a time specified in the notice information or documents that
the Authority requires to carry out the investigation;
(b) to answer questions in
respect of information the Authority requires in respect of its investigation
either forthwith or at a time and place specified in the notice.
(4) An undertaking
or person –
(a) who
fails to comply with a notice served under paragraph (1); or
(b) who
knowingly or recklessly provides information that is false, misleading or
incomplete,
is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(5) In
proceedings against an undertaking or person for an offence under paragraph (4)(a)
it shall be a defence for the accused to show that there was a reasonable
excuse for the accused failing to comply with the notice.
28 Power
to obtain information stored on a computer
(1) If Article 26(1)
applies the Authority may serve a written notice on a person who has control of
a computer that the Authority has reasonable cause to suspect is used to store information
relating to a person mentioned in Article 26(1).
(2) The
notice may require the person –
(a) to
provide the Authority with access to the computer;
(b) to
provide the Authority with any assistance it may require to do so; and
(c) to
produce to the Authority in a form in which it may be taken away information relating to the
business of the person mentioned in Article 20(1) that is stored on the
computer or may be accessed by virtue of the computer.
(3) If Article 26(2)
applies the Authority may serve a written notice on a person who has control of
a computer that the Authority has reasonable cause to suspect –
(a) is
used to store relevant information; or
(b) is used to gain access
to, or is capable of gaining access to relevant information, whether or not
stored in Jersey.
(4) The
notice may require the person –
(a) to
provide the Authority with access to the computer;
(b) to
provide the Authority with any assistance it may require to do so; and
(c) to
produce to the Authority in a form in which it may be taken away relevant information that is
stored on the computer or may be accessed by virtue of the computer.
(5) A
person –
(a) who
without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a notice served under paragraph (1) or (3);
or
(b) who
knowingly or recklessly provides information that is false, misleading or
incomplete,
is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(6) In
proceedings against a person for an offence under paragraph (5)(a) it
shall be a defence for the accused to show that there was a reasonable excuse
for the accused failing to comply with the notice.
(7) In
this Article “computer” means any instrument capable of storing
information in electronic form.
29 General
power to enter premises
(1) This
Article applies where the Authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a
person –
(a) is in breach of Article 8(1), 16(1)
or 20(1) or of a direction; or
(b) intends to breach
Article 20(1) (executing a prescribed merger or acquisition without the
approval of the Authority or otherwise than in accordance with the approval of
the Authority),
or is required to carry out an investigation mentioned in
Article 26(2).
(2) An
officer or agent of the Authority authorised in writing by the Authority to do
so may enter any premises where the officer or agent reasonably believes there
is kept information or documents that relate to the breach or intended breach
or are required for the purpose of the investigation.
(3) Premises
occupied by a person who is not suspected of being a party to the breach or
intended breach or whose behaviour is not the subject of the investigation
shall not be entered in accordance with paragraph (2) unless the person
has been given a written notice that –
(a) gives
at least 2 days’ notice of the intended entry;
(b) indicates
the subject matter of the purpose of the entry; and
(c) indicates
the nature of the offences created by Articles 27, 28 and 31,
but premises may otherwise be entered at any time under
paragraph (2) on production by the officer or agent of evidence of his or
her authorization and a document containing the information mentioned in
sub-paragraph (c).
(4) Entry
may be made under paragraph (1) –
(a) to obtain the
information or documents mentioned in Articles 27(3)(a);
(b) to put the questions
referred to in Article 27(3)(b); or
(c) to exercise the powers
conferred by paragraph (5).
(5) The
power under paragraph (4) to require documents to be provided includes a power –
(a) if the documents are
provided, to retain the documents or to take copies of them or extracts from
them; and
(b) if the documents are
not provided, to require the person to whom the requirement was directed to
state, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, where they are.
(6) If
documents are retained a list of the documents must be supplied to the person
from whom they were obtained.
30 Entry
and search of premises
(1) Where
this Article applies the Bailiff may grant a warrant that authorizes an entry
onto premises.
(2) This
Article applies where the Bailiff, on application by the Authority, is
satisfied by information on oath that there is reasonable cause to suspect that
an undertaking or, as the case may be, a person –
(a) is in breach of
Article 8(1), 16(1) or 20(1), or of a direction; or
(b) intends to breach
Article 20(1),
and that at least one of the circumstances specified in paragraph (3)
exists.
(3) Those
circumstances are –
(a) that a specified person
has failed in any respect to comply with a notice served on the person under Article 27(1)
or 28(1);
(b) that there are
reasonable grounds for suspecting the completeness of any information or
documents provided in response to such a notice;
(c) that the Authority is
conducting an investigation under Article 26(1) and that if a notice under
Article 27(1) or 28(1) were to be served on a specified undertaking or
person upon whom it might be served under either of those Articles there is a
serious risk that it would not be complied with or that a document to which it
might relate would be concealed, removed, tampered with or destroyed.
(4) A
warrant under paragraph (1) may authorize an officer or agent of the
Authority named in the warrant together with any other person named in the
warrant to enter the premises specified in the warrant, using such force as is
reasonably necessary for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (6).
(5) A
warrant issued under paragraph (1) may be expressed to authorize entry
onto premises in accordance with paragraph (4) on more than one occasion
during the period of its validity.
(6) A
person who has entered premises in accordance with a warrant under paragraph (1)
may –
(a) search the premises;
(b) obtain information and
retain documents that appear to be relevant to the investigation;
(c) take steps necessary to
prevent interference with documents relevant to the investigation;
(d) take copies of or
extracts from documents relevant to the investigation;
(e) require a person named
in the warrant or found on the premises to answer questions relevant to the
investigation; and
(f) if information or
documents cannot be found, require a person appearing to be in possession of
relevant information to state where they are and how they may be retrieved.
(7) If
documents are retained a list of the documents must be supplied to the person
from whom they were obtained.
(8) A
warrant under paragraph (1) is valid for one month from its date of issue.
31 General
provisions in respect of entry to premises
(1) A
document retained under Article 29(5)(a) or 30(6)(b) –
(a) may be retained for one
year; but
(b) if within that year
proceedings to which the document is relevant are commenced against any person,
may be retained until the conclusion of those proceedings.
(2) A
person –
(a) who
reasonably requires a retained document for his or her business; and
(b) who
asks the person who has retention of it for the document,
must be provided by that person with a copy of it as soon as reasonably
practicable.
(3) A
person –
(a) who fails to comply
with a requirement imposed on him or her under Article 29(5)(b), Article
30(6)(e) or Article 36(6)(f); or
(b) who obstructs a person
exercising a power conferred by Article 29 or Article 30,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
(4) In
proceedings against a person for an offence under paragraph (3)(a) it shall
be a defence for the accused to show that there was a reasonable excuse for the
accused failing to comply with the requirement.
32 Privilege
and self incrimination
(1) Nothing
in this Part requires a person to disclose or produce information or a document
the person would in an action in the Court be entitled to refuse to disclose or
produce on the grounds of legal professional privilege.
(2) However
a lawyer must disclose the name and address of a client if required to do so by
a person acting in accordance with this Part.
(3) An
answer given by a person to a question put to the person in exercise of a power
conferred by this Law may be used in evidence against the person.
(4) However
in criminal proceeding in which the person is charged with an offence other than
an offence under Article 27(4)(b), 28(5)(b) or 55(1) (which relate to the
provision of information that is false, misleading or incomplete) –
(a) no
evidence relating to the answer may be adduced; and
(b) no
question relating to it may be asked,
by or on behalf of the prosecution, unless evidence relating to it
is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, in the proceedings by or on
behalf of that person.
33 Obstruction
of investigations
(1) This
Article applies to a person who knows or suspects –
(a) that
an investigation is being or is likely to be carried out under this Part; or
(b) that
information or documents are being or are likely to be required under this
Part.
(2) The
person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine if he or she –
(a) falsifies,
conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of any relevant information or
document; or
(b) causes
or permits any relevant information or document to be falsified, concealed, destroyed
or disposed of.
(3) For
the purposes of this Article, information or a document is relevant if the
person knows or suspects –
(a) that
it would be relevant to the investigation; or
(b) that
it is or is likely to be required for the purposes of the investigation.
34 Co-operation
with competition or regulatory authorities
(1) The
Authority may make an arrangement with a relevant competition or regulatory
authority that provides that each party to the arrangement may assist the other
in the performance of its functions, including furnishing information to the
other party.
(2) To
provide that assistance the Authority may exercise all or any of the powers mentioned
in paragraph (3).
(3) Those
powers are –
(a) the
power to conduct an investigation mentioned in Article 26(1);
(b) the
powers to require the provision of information and documents mentioned in
Articles 27 and 28;
(c) the
powers of entry given by Articles 29, 30 and 31;
(d) the
power to communicate to the relevant competition or regulatory authority
information that is in the possession of the Authority, whether or not as a
result of the exercise of any of the powers mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a),
(b) and (c).
(4) The
Authority shall not exercise a power mentioned in paragraph (3) unless it
has satisfied itself that the assistance is required by the relevant
competition or regulatory authority solely to enable it to exercise its
competition or regulatory functions.
(5) In
deciding whether to exercise a power mentioned in paragraph (3) the
Authority may take into account, in particular –
(a) whether
corresponding assistance would be given to the Authority;
(b) whether
the case concerns the possible breach of a law or other requirement that has no
close parallel in Jersey or involves the assertion of a jurisdiction not
recognized by Jersey;
(c) the
seriousness of the case and its importance in Jersey;
(d) whether
the assistance could be obtained by other means; and
(e) whether
it is otherwise appropriate in the public interest to give the assistance
sought.
(6) The
Authority may require the relevant competition or regulatory authority to
provide the Authority with an undertaking to pay the Authority’s fees or costs
before the Authority exercises a power under this Article.
(7) The
Authority must not disclose information under this Article unless it has
satisfied itself that the relevant competition or regulatory authority will
comply with any conditions subject to which the disclosure is to be made, being
conditions intended to ensure that the information is not used for any purpose
other than that for which it was disclosed.
PART 6
ENFORCEMENT
35 Decisions
following an investigation
(1) Paragraph
(2) applies if, as the result of an investigation conducted under Article 26(1),
the Authority proposes to make a decision that a person –
(a) is
in breach of Article 8(1), 16(1) or 20(1), or of a direction; or
(b) intends to breach Article 20(1).
(2) The
Authority must give the person written notice of its proposed decision and
allow the person a reasonable time to make representations to it before making any
decision.
(3) The
Authority must follow any prescribed procedures when receiving or considering
representations made to it under paragraph (2).
36 Directions
in relation to anti-competitive arrangements
(1) If
the Authority decides that an undertaking is in breach of Article 8(1) it
may give the undertaking such direction as it considers appropriate to bring
the breach to an end.
(2) A
direction given to an undertaking under this Article may, in particular,
require the undertaking to terminate or modify the arrangement suspected of
being an anti-competitive arrangement.
(3) A
direction given under this Article must be given in writing.
(4) The
Authority may, in addition to, or in place of, giving a direction make an order
imposing a financial penalty on the undertaking.
37 Directions
in relation to abuse of dominant position
(1) If
the Authority decides that conduct by an undertaking is in breach of Article 16(1)
it may give the undertaking such directions as it considers appropriate to
bring the breach to an end.
(2) A
direction may, in particular, require the undertaking to cease or modify the
conduct in question.
(3) A
direction given under this Article must be given in writing.
(4) The
Authority may, in addition to, or in place of, giving a direction make an order
imposing a financial penalty on the undertaking.
38 Directions
in relation to mergers and acquisitions
(1) If
the Authority decides that there has been a breach of Article 20(1) it may
give the relevant person such directions as it considers appropriate to bring
the breach to an end.
(2) If
the Authority decides that a condition attached to its approval to a merger or
acquisition has not been or is not being complied with, it may give the
relevant person such directions as it considers appropriate to ensure
compliance with the condition.
(3) A
direction under paragraph (1) or (2) may, in particular –
(a) require
the person to take all such action as it may be possible to take to nullify the
merger or acquisition;
(b) impose
on the person a condition as to the manner in which the person conducts
business;
(c) require
the person to sell or otherwise dispose of any part of the person’s
assets or business as directed by the Authority.
(4) A
condition imposed by virtue of paragraph (3)(b) or (c) shall have effect
as if it had been attached to the Authority’s approval to the merger or
acquisition.
(5) If
the Authority decides that a person intends to breach Article 20(1) by
executing a prescribed merger or acquisition without the approval of the
Authority or otherwise than in accordance with the approval of the Authority,
it may give the person such directions as it considers appropriate to ensure
that the merger or acquisition is not executed or is not executed except in
accordance with the approval of the Authority.
(6) A
direction given under this Article must be given in writing.
(7) The
Authority may, in addition to, or in place of, giving a direction make an order
imposing a financial penalty on the undertaking.
39 Financial
penalties
(1) The
Authority must not impose a financial penalty under Article 36(4), 37(4)
or 38(7) unless it is satisfied that the breach of the prohibition was
committed intentionally, negligently or recklessly.
(2) The
amount of the penalty must not exceed 10% of the turnover of the undertaking
during the period of the breach of the prohibition up to a maximum period of 3
years.
(3) The
Committee may prescribe the manner in which the turnover is to be calculated
for the purposes of paragraph (2).
(4) An
order imposing a penalty on an undertaking must be in writing and must specify
the date before which the penalty is required to be paid.
(5) If
the penalty has not been paid and the specified date has passed the Authority
may apply to the Court for an order to enforce the Authority’s order
against the undertaking concerned.
(6) The
order of the Court may provide for all of the costs of, or incidental to, the
application to be borne by all or any of the following –
(a) the
person required to pay the penalty; or
(b) where
the person required to pay the penalty is a commercial entity, a shareholder or
officer of the entity whose actions led to the imposition of the penalty.
(7) The
Authority shall pay to the Treasurer of the States any money received by it in
payment of a financial penalty.
40 Interim
measures
(1) This
Article applies if the Authority has reasonable cause to suspect that –
(a) there
has been a breach of Article 8(1), 16(1) or 20(1), or of a
direction;
(b) a
condition attached to its approval to a merger or acquisition has not been or
is not being complied with; or
(c) a
person intends to breach
Article 20(1),
but has not completed any investigation into the matter.
(2) The
Authority may give any direction it considers appropriate if as a matter of
urgency it considers it necessary to do so –
(a) to
prevent serious, irreparable damage to a particular person or class of persons;
or
(b) to
protect the public interest.
(3) Before
giving a direction under paragraph (2) the Authority must give each person
upon whom it intends to serve the direction written notice of its intention to
do so and allow the person a reasonable time to make representations to it.
(4) A
notice under paragraph (3) must indicate the nature of the direction that
the Authority is proposing to give and its reasons for giving it.
(5) A
direction given under this Article has effect while paragraph (1) applies,
but may be replaced if the circumstances permit by a direction under Article 36,
37 or 38 (as appropriate).
(6) A
direction given under this Article must be in writing.
(7) In
the case of a suspected breach of Article 8(1), a direction given to an
undertaking under this Article may, in particular, require the undertaking not to
execute an arrangement except insofar as it does not hinder competition in a
manner contrary to that Article.
(8) In
the case of a suspected breach of Article 16(1), a direction given under
this Article may, in particular, require the undertaking not to continue any
conduct the Authority considers to be an abuse of a dominant position.
(9) In
the case of a suspected breach of Article 20(1), a direction given under
this Article may, in particular –
(a) require
the relevant person to take all such action as it may be possible to take to
nullify or suspend the effect of the merger or acquisition;
(b) impose
on a relevant person a condition as to the manner in which the person conducts
business.
(10) Where
the Authority suspects that a person intends to breach Article 20(1) by
executing a prescribed merger or acquisition without the approval of the
Authority or otherwise than in accordance with the approval of the Authority, a
direction given under this Article may, in particular, prohibit the execution
of the merger or acquisition or prohibit its execution except in accordance
with the approval of the Authority.
41 Enforcement
of directions
(1) If
the Authority decides that a person has failed, without reasonable excuse, to
comply with a direction, the Authority may apply to the Court for an order –
(a) requiring
the person to make good the default within a time specified in the order; or
(b) if
the direction related to anything to be done in the management or
administration of a person that is a commercial entity, requiring an officer of
the entity to do it within the time specified in the order.
(2) The
order may provide for all of the costs of, or incidental to, the application to
be borne by all or any of the following –
(a) the
person in default; or
(b) where
the person in default is a commercial entity, a shareholder or officer of the entity
whose actions led to the default.
42 Attorney
General to be notified of breach
(1) If
the Authority in the course of any investigation is satisfied that a person has
been guilty of an offence whether under this Law or otherwise it must inform
the Attorney General.
(2) The
notification must contain sufficient information to enable the Attorney General
to determine whether to proceed with a prosecution.
(3) If the
Attorney General decides to proceed with a prosecution the Authority must
provide the Attorney General with any information and help requested that it is
able to obtain or supply.
43 Requests
for guidance
(1) This
Article applies where an undertaking wishes to seek the guidance of the
Authority on whether a proposed course of action it is considering taking would
be a breach of Article 8(1) or 16(1).
(2) The
Authority’s guidance cannot be sought under this Article as to whether a
course of action would be a breach of Article 20(1) and guidance by the
Authority that a course of action is unlikely to be a breach of
Article 8(1) or 16(1) does not imply that the same course of action
would not be a breach of Article 20(1).
(3) An
application for guidance must –
(a) be
made in such form as the Authority may from time to time determine;
(b) contain
or be accompanied by such information and documents as the Authority may
require relating to the course of action proposed; and
(c) be
accompanied by an undertaking, in a form approved by the Authority, to pay the
Authority’s reasonable fees or costs in connection with the application,
whatever the outcome.
(4) At
any time after receiving an application and before giving its guidance the
Authority may request the applicant to provide additional information or
documents the Authority reasonably requires in order to give the guidance.
(5) If
information or documents requested under paragraph (4) are not provided
within a reasonable time the Authority need not proceed with the application.
(6) The
Committee may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by Order, prescribe the
manner in which an application for guidance shall be dealt with by the
Authority.
(7) The
Order may, in particular require the Authority –
(a) to
publish in a prescribed form and manner details of applications it receives;
(b) to
seek representations in respect of an application and to take into account any it
receives when preparing its guidance;
(c) to
publish in a prescribed form and manner any guidance it gives and its reasoning
for its decision.
(8) If
the Authority gives guidance that a course of action is unlikely to be a breach
of Article 8(1) or 16(1) the Authority shall not take action under
Part 5 (investigations) or this Part in respect of that course of conduct
unless –
(a) it
has reasonable cause to suspect that there has been a material change of
circumstance since it gave its guidance;
(b) it
has reasonable cause to suspect that the information on which it based its
guidance was incomplete, false or misleading in a material particular;
(c) it
has reasonable cause to suspect that the course of action is a breach of
Article 20(1); or
(d) a
complaint about the course of action taken by the relevant undertaking or
person has been made to it.
PART 7
RESTRICTIONS ON DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
44 Restricted
information
(1) This
Article applies to a person who receives information relating to the business
or other affairs of a person –
(a) under
or for the purposes of this Law; or
(b) directly
or indirectly from a person who has so received it.
(2) Subject
to Article 45, the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine, or to both, if he
or she discloses the information without the consent of the person to whom it
relates and, where paragraph (1)(b) applies, the person from whom it was
received.
(3) Paragraph
(2) does not apply to –
(a) information
that at the time of its disclosure was already available to the public; or
(b) the
disclosure of information in the form of a summary or collection of information
so framed as not to enable information relating to a particular person to be
ascertained from it.
45 Permitted
disclosures
(1) Despite
Article 44 the Authority or a person acting on its behalf may disclose
information mentioned in that Article –
(a) to
enable or assist a person acting on behalf of the Authority to discharge a
function under this Law;
(b) to
a relevant competition regulatory authority in accordance with Article 34;
(c) to
enable a suspected offence, whether or not under this Law, to be investigated;
(d) in
connection with criminal proceedings, whether or not under this Law;
(e) in
connection with any other proceedings to enforce this Law;
(f) to
the Attorney General;
(g) to
a person exercising professional skills where the Authority considers it
necessary to seek professional advice to enable or assist it to discharge a
function under this Law.
(2) The
Authority must not disclose information under this Article unless it has
satisfied itself that the recipient will comply with any conditions subject to
which the disclosure is to be made, being conditions intended to ensure that
the information is not used for any purpose other than that for which it is to
be disclosed.
46 Information
supplied to Authority by relevant competition or regulatory authority
Articles 44 and 45 also apply to information supplied to the
Authority for the purpose of a function under this Law by a relevant
competition or regulatory authority in a country or territory outside Jersey.
PART 8
EVIDENCE
47 Evidence
of behaviour admissible
(1) This
Article applies in respect of an action where it is alleged that there has been
a breach of Article 8(1), 16(1), 20(1) or a direction.
(2) Evidence
may be admitted to show that a person or an employee, an agent or, where the
person is a commercial entity, an officer of the person behaved in a manner
that would not have been expected if –
(a) an
arrangement that was in breach of Article 8(1) did not exist;
(b) an
abuse of a dominant position in breach of Article 16(1) was not being
pursued;
(c) a
merger or acquisition in breach of Article 20(1) had not been executed;
(d) a
merger or acquisition had been executed in accordance with the approval of the
Authority; or
(e) a
direction was being complied with.
48 Expert
witnesses
(1) The
opinion of an expert witness is admissible in evidence in proceedings under
this Law.
(2) The
evidence may, in particular, relate to –
(a) the
effect that an arrangement, transaction or practice may have on competition in Jersey;
and
(b) the
relevant economic principles and their application.
(3) Despite
paragraph (1), the Court may direct, if it is satisfied that the interests
of justice so require, that the opinion of an expert witness is not admissible
or is not admissible except for a specified purpose.
(4) In
this Article an expert witness means a person who appears to the Court to
possess the appropriate qualifications or experience in respect of the matter
to which his or her evidence relates.
49 Presumptions
in evidence
(1) This
Article applies in respect of an action where it is alleged that there has been
a breach of Article 8(1), 16(1), 20(1) or a direction.
(2) A
presumption specified in this Article shall be taken as a fact unless it is
shown not to be true.
(3) It
shall be presumed in respect of a document that purports to have been created
by a person –
(a) that
the document was created by the person; and
(b) that
a statement in the document was made by the person unless the document
expressly attributes its making to another person.
(4) It
shall be presumed in respect of a document that purports to have been created
by one person and addressed and sent to another person –
(a) that
the document was created and sent by the first person and received by the other
person; and
(b) that
a statement in the document was made by the first person, unless the document
expressly attributes its making to another person, and came to the notice of
the other person.
(5) It
shall be presumed that the person who ordinarily uses a computer is the author
of a document retrieved from it.
(6) The
presumption in paragraph (7) applies when a person authorized under this
Law to remove anything from premises states in evidence that in the exercise of
that power he or she removed a document or other material from premises and
that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the document or other
material is the property of a specified person.
(7) It
shall be presumed that the document or other material is the property of the
specified person.
(8) The
presumption in paragraph (9) applies when the presumption in paragraph (7)
applies and the person making the statement referred to in paragraph (6)
also states in evidence that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the
document or other material relates to a business carried on by the specified
person.
(9) It
shall be presumed that the document or other material relates to a business
carried on by the specified person.
50 Admissibility
of statements contained in certain documents by co-conspirators
(1) This
Article applies when a document contains a statement by a relevant person that
asserts that an act has been done, or is or was proposed to be done, by another
person, being an act (the “relevant act”) that relates to one of
the matters mentioned in paragraph (2).
(2) Those
matters are –
(a) the
making or implementation of an anti-competitive arrangement; or
(b) the
doing of an act that constitutes an abuse of a dominant position contrary to Article 16(1),
that is the subject of proceedings under this Law.
(3) For
the purpose of paragraph (1) a relevant person is one who has –
(a) made
or implemented an anti-competitive arrangement; or
(b) done
an act that constitutes an abuse of a dominant position contrary to Article 16(1).
(4) Paragraph
(5) has effect if the document mentioned in paragraph (1) –
(a) came
into existence before the commencement of the proceedings referred to in paragraph (2);
and
(b) it
was prepared otherwise than in response to an enquiry made or question put by
an employee, officer or agent of the Authority or a police officer.
(5) The
statement referred to in paragraph (1) shall be admissible as evidence in
the proceedings referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) that the relevant
act was done or was proposed to be done by that other person.
(6) The
Court shall in estimating the weight, if any, it attaches to the statement have
regard to all the circumstances from which any inference can reasonably be
drawn as to the statement’s accuracy or otherwise.
(7) If
a statement is admitted in evidence by virtue of paragraph (5) –
(a) any
evidence that would have been admissible as relevant to the person’s
credibility as a witness if the person who made the statement had been called
as a witness shall be admissible for that purpose;
(b) evidence
may with the leave of the Court be given of any matter that could have been put
to the person in cross-examination as relevant to his or her credibility if the
person who made the statement had been called as a witness; and
(c) evidence
tending to prove that the person who made the statement, whether before or
after making it, made, orally or otherwise, another statement inconsistent with
the first shall be admissible to show that the person has contradicted himself
or herself.
PART 9
PROVISIONS IN RESPECT OF PROCEEDINGS
51 Civil
action
(1) A person has a duty not to breach Article 8(1), 16(1)
or 20(1), or a direction.
(2) A
breach of that duty is actionable by an aggrieved person.
(3) The
Court may grant such relief as it considers appropriate, including awarding
punitive or exemplary damages.
(4) If
a breach of duty mentioned in paragraph (1) is committed by a commercial
entity with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to neglect on the
part of an officer of the entity, that officer is also liable in the same
manner as the entity for the breach of duty.
(5) The
Authority or an aggrieved person may seek from the Court –
(a) an
injunction to restrain any actual or apprehended breach of the duty mentioned
in paragraph (1); or
(b) a
declaration that a person has breached Article 8(1), 16(1) or 20(1),
or a direction.
(6) If
the Authority or an aggrieved person has reasonable grounds for suspecting that
there will be a breach of the duty mentioned in paragraph (1) by a
commercial entity the Authority or person may seek an injunction from the Court
to restrain any action by an officer of the entity that could cause the breach
of duty by the entity.
(7) The
Court may grant an injunction under this Article on such terms as it considers
appropriate.
(8) This
Article has effect whether or not the Authority or aggrieved person has
exercised or is proposing to exercise any other powers under this Law.
(9) In
this Article, “aggrieved person” means a person who has suffered or
is likely to suffer economic loss or damage as a result of an actual or
apprehended breach or Article 8(1), 16(1) or 20(1), or of a
direction.
52 Limit
on costs awarded against Authority
In proceedings under this Law brought by the Authority the Court
shall not award costs against the Authority unless it is satisfied that the
Authority had no reasonable grounds for bringing the proceedings.
53 Appeals
(1) A
person may appeal to the Court against –
(a) a
decision by the Authority that the person is in breach of
Article 8(1), 16(1) or 20(1);
(b) the
giving of a direction to the person by the Authority or a requirement of, or a
condition imposed by any such direction;
(c) the
imposition on the person by the Authority, in accordance with
Article 36(4), 37(4) or 38(7), of a financial penalty or the amount of any
such financial penalty.
(2) A
person may appeal in accordance with paragraph (1) within the 28 days
after notice of the decision, the giving of the direction or the imposition of
the fine is given to the person by the Authority or within such further period
as the Court may allow if it considers it desirable to do so in the interest of
justice.
(3) In
determining an appeal under this Article the Court is not restricted to a
consideration of questions of law or to any information that was before the
Authority.
(4) When
determining an appeal under this Article the Court may –
(a) confirm
the decision of the Authority appealed against, revoke the decision or
substitute for the decision any decision the Authority could have made;
(b) confirm
the direction of the Authority appealed against, revoke the direction or
substitute for the direction any direction the Authority could have given
imposing such requirement and conditions as the Authority could have imposed;
or
(c) confirm
the imposition of the financial penalty appealed against, revoke the imposition
of the penalty or substitute for the penalty any penalty, whether more or less
than the penalty imposed by the Authority, that the Authority could have
imposed.
(5) The
Court may make such orders as it thinks appropriate, including ancillary orders
and orders as to costs.
(6) Except
in the case of an appeal against the imposition or amount of a financial
penalty, the making of an appeal under this Article does not suspend the effect
of the decision or direction to which the appeal relates unless the Court
orders otherwise.
54 Service
of notices
(1) This
Article applies to a notice, direction or other document required or authorized
by or under this Law to be given to or served on a person.
(2) It
may be given or served –
(a) by
delivering it to the person;
(b) by
leaving it at the person’s proper address;
(c) by
sending it by post to the person at that address;
(d) by
sending it to the person at that address by facsimile, electronic transmission
or other similar means that produce a document containing the text of the
communication in legible form or is capable of doing so; or
(e) in
the case of a company incorporated in Jersey, by being delivered to the
company’s registered office.
(3) In
the case of a partnership, an unincorporated association or a commercial
entity, the notice, direction or other document may be given to or served on –
(a) a
person who is the secretary or other similar officer of the partnership,
association or entity;
(b) a
person with the control or management of the partnership, association or
entity; or
(c) any
person who purports to act in either of those capacities, by whatever name
called.
(4) For
the purposes of this Article and of Article 12 of the Interpretation (Jersey) Law 1954[5] in its application to this
Article, the proper address of a person to or upon whom a document is to be
given or served by post is the person’s last known address.
(5) However
where paragraph (3) applies that address shall be the registered or
principal office in Jersey of the partnership, association or entity.
PART 10
SUPPLEMENTARY
55 Offence
of supplying false information
(1) A
person who knowingly or recklessly provides the Authority or any other person
entitled to information under this Law with information that is false or
misleading in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence if the
information is provided in circumstances in which the person providing the
information intends, or could reasonably be expected to know, that the
information would be used by the Authority to exercise a function under this
Law.
(2) A
person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) shall be liable to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine, or to both.
56 Responsibility
(1) If
an offence under this Law committed by a commercial entity is proved to have
been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any
neglect on the part of an officer of the entity, that officer shall also be
guilty of the offence and liable in the same manner as the entity to the
penalty provided for that offence.
(2) A
person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of an offence under
this Law shall also be guilty of the offence and liable in the same manner as a
principal offender to the penalty provided for that offence.
(3) If
it appears to the Authority that it would be in the public interest that a
person mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) should not without the leave of
the Court –
(a) be
a director of a company;
(b) be
in any other way directly or indirectly concerned or take part in the
management of a company;
(c) be
in Jersey in any way directly or indirectly concerned or take part in the
management of a body incorporated outside Jersey,
the Authority may apply to the Court for an order to that effect
against that person.
(4) Article 78
of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991[6] shall apply to and in
respect of an application made under paragraph (3) of this Article as if
it were an application made under paragraph (1) of that Article.
57 Authority
to keep legislation under review
(1) The
Authority may advise the relevant Committee on the effect an enactment is
having or a proposed enactment is likely to have on competition in Jersey.
(2) If
after considering an enactment or proposed enactment the Authority is satisfied
that on balance the disadvantages suffered by the public by virtue of the
constraint on competition in Jersey imposed by the enactment or proposed
enactment outweigh or are likely to outweigh the benefits gained by the public
by virtue of the enactment or proposed enactment it shall advise the relevant
Committee accordingly.
(3) If
after a reasonable time the Authority is satisfied that the relevant Committee
has taken no action or insufficient action on its advice or if the Authority is
satisfied that the relevant Committee has acted contrary to that advice the
Authority shall prepare and present a report on the subject to the Committee.
(4) The
Committee must present the report to the States at the first reasonable
opportunity.
(5) In
this Article –
“enactment” includes this Law;
“relevant Committee”, in respect of an enactment or proposed enactment, means the
Committee with responsibility for the enactment or proposed enactment.
58 Power
to amend enactments by Regulations
(1) The
States may, by Regulations, amend other enactments as they consider necessary
or expedient to encourage competition in the supply of goods and services in Jersey.
(2) Regulations
made under this Article may contain such transitional, incidental,
consequential, or supplementary provisions as the States thinks necessary or
expedient.
59 Right
of Authority to intervene
(1) Where
the Court is considering civil proceedings brought by virtue of this Law, other
than by the Authority, the Authority shall be notified in accordance with Rules
of Court made by the Court.
(2) In
a case to which paragraph (1) applies, the Authority shall, on giving
notice in accordance with the Rules referred to in that paragraph at any time
during the proceedings, be joined as a party to the proceedings.
(3) Where
the Authority has been joined as a party to proceedings as a result of a notice
under paragraph (2) it may, with leave, appeal against the decision in the
proceedings.
(4) The
power to make Rules of Court under –
(a) Article 11
of the Royal Court (Jersey) Law 1948;[7] or
(b) Article 19
of the Court of Appeal (Jersey) Law 1961,[8]
shall be taken to include a power to make Rules for the purposes of
this Law.
(5) In
this Article “Court” includes the Court of Appeal.
60 Authority
and Court to have regard to European Community precedents
The Authority and the Court shall attempt to ensure that so far as
possible questions arising in relation to competition are dealt with in a
manner that is consistent with the treatment of corresponding questions arising
under Community law in relation to competition within the European Community.
61 Orders
(1) The
Committee may make Orders to carry this Law into effect and, in particular, to
prescribe a matter that is to be prescribed by a provision of this Law.
(2) If
the Committee considers that an Order should be made it may direct the
Authority to make recommendations in respect of the proposed Order to the
Committee.
62 Transitional
provision – anti-competitive arrangements
(1) This
Article applies where immediately before the commencement of this Law an undertaking
was a party to an arrangement which if made after that commencement would be an
anti-competitive arrangement.
(2) If
6 months immediately after the commencement of this Law the arrangement is
still in force it shall be taken to have been made at the end of that period
and accordingly to be prohibited under Article 8(1) and void in accordance
with Article 8(4).
63 Regulation
of Undertakings and Development (Jersey) Law 1973 amended
(1) For
Article 5(2) of the Regulation of
Undertakings and Development (Jersey) Law 1973[9] there shall be substituted
the following paragraph –
“(2) In deciding whether to grant
a licence, to impose conditions, or to refuse to grant a licence the Committee
shall have regard –
(a) to the need to regulate and manage demand on
the resources of the Island, and to protect the integrity of the Island in
commercial and financial matters; and
(b) to the provisions of the Competition (Jersey) Law 2005[10] and to the decisions and
directions of the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority made or given under
that Law.”.
64 Citation
and commencement
(1) This
Law may be cited as the Competition (Jersey) Law 2005.
(2) It
shall come into force on such day or days as the States may by Act appoint.
(3) Different
days may be appointed for different provisions and for different purposes.
M.N. DE LA HAYE
Greffier of the States.