The New Vertical Restraints Block Exemption Regulation

07-Jun-2010  |  Competition, EU and Trade, Technology, Media & Telecoms


The European competition rules which govern agreements between suppliers and distributors are set to change this month (June).

The European Commission has adopted a new block exemption regulation, Regulation 330/2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to categories of vertical agreements and concerted practices (the "Regulation"), and accompanying Guidelines (the "Guidelines") which replace the existing regulation and guidelines from 1 June 2010.

There will be a transitional period from 1 June 2010 until the end of May 2011 for agreements which were already in force as at 31 May 2010, which satisfied the previous exemption, but which do not satisfy the conditions for exemption under the Regulation.

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Lawyers Robert Vidal, Louisa Penny