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Pharmaceutical drugs competition investigation update
There’s been an update in the huge pharmaceutical drugs competition investigation update being conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The update for the investigation, which is one of many investigations in to anti-competitive behaviour in the pharmaceutical drugs sector, is now a review into suspected anti-competitive agreements. There is also at least a suspicion of concerted practices in relation to generic pharmaceutical products.
If anti-competitive behaviour or agreements are identified, big fines could be issues against the offending organisations. Read More
Google competition breach yields massive fine
A Google competition breach has yielded a massive fine imposed by the European Commission over its behaviour surrounding Android phones.
The fine amounts to £3.9bn ($5bn) and is based on Google’s search-related revenue earned during the period the competition breach is said to have taken place.
The investigations into the Google competition breach stem back to 2015 and surround impositions of pre-installed browsers and search apps that it’s claimed has led to users not looking for alternatives, with Google paying huge sums to manufacturers to pre-install its own software.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has hit Ping Europe Limited (Ping) with a fine of £1.45m for refusing to allow their golf clubs to be sold online.
They have also been forced to repeal their online sales ban immediately.
The CMA ultimately found that Ping’s online sales ban was a restriction that could adversely affect competition in the market by closing one of the most important distribution channels available to the retailers involved; i.e. the world wide web.
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A little about competition law…
Competition law allows for fair competition to be maintained between companies and prevents companies taking part in anti-competitive behaviour.
The UK is governed by UK and EU competition laws, and if it’s found that a company has engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, there can be serious consequences. The two common ways in which competition law can be breached is: engaging in anti-competitive agreements; abuse of a dominant market position.
Both can lead to fines for offending companies.
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Competition and Markets Authority determines TalkTalk and CityFibre appeals over BT leased lines
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has made a determination after TalkTalk and CityFibre have allegedly been overcharged for BT leased lines.
Leased lines are “high quality, dedicated, point-to-point data transmissions services” for essential communication services. BT leases out these lines to other telecommunication provides like TalkTalk and CityFibre, but the control they have other the prices has been disputed by the two users.
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A look back at the 2014 supply of medicines to care homes case
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are currently embroiled in a lot of investigations over the pricing of medicines, and it’s been something of a hot topic for quite some time. In 2014, two pharmaceutical companies were fined for breaching competition laws by entering into a cartel to reduce the competition of supplying medicines to care homes.
Lloyds’ Pharmacy and Tomms Pharmacy were the two companies involved in the cartel between May and November 2011, and they were justifiably investigated and fined as a result of their activities.
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The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) introduced some rules for the Showmen’s Guild to help tackle prohibited activities and improve competition for travelling fairs.
The Guild is the largest existing association of fairs, consisting of 90% of all funfairs and representing over 5,000 showmen members in the U.K.
However, the Guild enforces rules that can arguably make it difficult for non-guild members to set up their own fairs to compete with Guild members; so much so that it can impede national and EU competition laws.
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CMA look to take enforcement action against online gambling companies
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on 23rd June 2017 that they will be taking action against a number of online gambling companies for alleged anti-competitive behaviour.
Online gambling companies are often relying on ‘free bet’ promotions a lot these days. The volume of advertising for ‘free bets’ on TV, Radio and the Web speaks for itself.
It’s obvious that people are being enticed to join up, and the CMA is concerned that companies aren’t explaining what can often be stringent terms and conditions gamblers are then tied to when they sign-up to their services…
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On 2nd April 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) produced a report that identified some players in the private healthcare sector were engaging in behaviour that had an adverse effect of competition.
HCA Healthcare UK is one of the private hospitals that was investigated.
In this report, the CMA found that some consultants and healthcare service providers didn’t always publicise their performance or fees for clients. By doing this, clients were potentially prevented from being able to effectively ‘shop around’ by comparing public and private services and costs associated with the latter.
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CMA fines Pfizer and Flynn Pharma £90 million for abuse of dominant market position and price hiking
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cracked down on excessive and unfair pricing allegations over Phenytoin Sodium capsules. Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Flynn Pharma are accused of abusing dominant positions in the sector to inflate profits; breaking U.K. and EU competition laws in the process.
The CMA’s investigations were reportedly hampered as Pfizer failed to provide information as requested by the authorities.
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