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The importance of the CMA in regulating the medical equipment industry
The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recent decision to close their investigations into the medical equipment sector has raised concerns for many.
Although the competition watchdog didn’t come to a conclusive decision as to whether the medical equipment industry violated competition laws, they did however decide to close the case on ‘priority administrative grounds’.
This doesn’t mean that the industry are not guilty of anti-competitive behaviour though…
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Are loyalty schemes now seen as an anti-competitive practice?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently opened a public inquiry for suspected anti-competitive conduct relating to loyalty schemes.
Although the Gov.uk website doesn’t detail masses of information on the investigation, there’s a suspected breach of UK and EU competition laws in relation to loyalty-inducing practices in consumable goods.
The investigation opened on the 16th February this year. The CMA has allowed a period of time from February to May to gather information, including gathering formal or informal information requests and parties’ responses. The competition watchdog will then have to make a decision in June whether to proceed with the investigation or to close the investigation.
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The Competition and Markets Authority has issued a hefty £2.8 millionfine after two suppliers of products to the furniture industry admitted to anti-competitive behaviour.
The CMA opened their investigation in March last year after two suppliers of drawer wraps and fronts were suspected to be conducting illegal cartel agreements to share the market. As a result of the investigations, fines in the millions have been issued after breaches were identified.
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“Hanging out the dirty laundry” – The cleanroom laundry industry exposed?
The cleanroom industry is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for suspected anti-competitive agreements. If true, they’ll likely be found in breach of competition laws.
Two suppliers of cleanroom laundry services and products – Micronclean Ltd (formerly Fenland Laundries Ltd); and Berendsen Cleanroom Services Ltd (formerly Micronclean (Newbury) Ltd) – are suspected of breaching competition laws by marketing and sharing products, and/or services, under the ‘Micronclean’ brand. The suppliers allegedly divided up customers by geographical ‘territory’ and/or customer type under the agreement.
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Are online gambling companies playing a sleight-of-hand?
An inquiry into the gambling industry has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The competition watchdogs are concerned whether the gambling companies are treating their customers fairly.
In an industry as valuable as this, it’s important the CMA investigate any potential infringements that could affect consumers.
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CMA update on the investigation in to the personal and small business banking sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has been investigating the supply of Personal Current Accounts (PCA) and banking services to small and medium sized enterprises on suspicion of anti-competitive behaviour.
The CMA conducted the investigation after complaints and concerns were made over the services retail banks provided. The main areas focused on were:
- Whether there is a weak customer response due to lack of engagement and/or barriers to searching and switching reducing the incentives on banks to compete on price and/or quality and/or to innovate;
- Whether there are barriers to entry and expansion constraining the ability of banks to enter or expand; and
- Whether the level of concentration is having an adverse effect on customers
CMA investigate care homes for the elderly
The Competition and Markets Authority has recently started a market study into the care homes for the elderly to see how well the market works, and to ensure people are being treated fairly.
Not long ago, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began looking into whether care home providers are treating their residents and representatives in a fair manner. In this study, the CMA is encouraging any interested persons to come forward with any information to help them.
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Unfair funfair for fairgoers! CMA targets Funfair business!
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently issued a statement of objections to the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, a trade association for the travelling funfair business, for its alleged anti-competitive practices.
The Guild’s 127-year-old carnival rules have allegedly protected their own Guild showmen from competition and reduced the chances for potential new attractions to join fairs. This could potentially limit free choice of millions of fairgoers as well as deprive them of access to improved rides and attractions. This could also hinder the fairgoers value for money as a lack of competition can mean a hike in prices.
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CMA’s investigation into the pharmaceutical industry for its steep price increase
Pharmaceutical companies are being investigated over ‘unacceptable and unethical’ price hikes.
The health department spokesman said that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are carrying out five investigations into the pharmaceutical and health sector.
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Enforcement investigation launched in the secondary ticketing sector
The Office of Fair Trading (the U.K.’s former competition watchdog) launched an investigation into the secondary ticketing market back in 2012. As a result of the investigation, four secondary ticket sellers gave undertakings to the current competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Now, the CMA has recently launched an enforcement investigation to see whether the sector are complying with consumer protection laws.
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