Recent News

February 2009
Competition Authority to carry out competition study of import/distribution sector

The Competition Authority has announced that it will carry out a study of the retail related import / distribution sector in Ireland. This follows a request by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan T.D.,

The terms of reference of the study are as follows. To examine:

1. how the retail related import / distribution sector operates and how competition works in that sector;
2. whether any practice or method of competition affects the supply and distribution of goods within that sector;
3. the impact on competition within the sector of direct importation from source countries, rather than indirectly through the UK.

The Competition Authority has been requested to deliver its report by 30th April 2009.

This is the first study of its kind into the import/distribution sector, and the Authority will be inviting submissions from all interested parties, such as consumers, retailers, importers, distributors and manufacturers.

O’Flynn Exhams has significant experience of advising clients in relation to competition law investigations across a range of sectors. For further information or assistance in preparing a submission to the Authority, please contact our competition law partner, John P Gaffney.