French Competition Authority Launches Public Consultation On New Draft Guidelines On Compliance Programmes And Settlement Procedure

On 14 October 2011, the French Competition Authority launched a two-month public consultation on two new draft guidelines, namely a framework document on competition law compliance programmes and a procedural notice on the French settlement procedure.

Draft framework-document on competition law compliance programmes

The draft framework document on competition law compliance programmes first emphasises the added value for companies of having such a programme in place, provided that it is effective. According to this draft framework document, competition law compliance programmes play not only a preventive and educational role; but they can also be key in helping the company's board to detect anti-competitive practices and to deal with them. In this respect, the draft framework document specifies that companies having a compliance programme should submit as soon as possible a leniency application if their compliance programme reveals the existence of a cartel. The