Proposal To Amend The Swedish Competition Act

A Committee, appointed by the Swedish Government in autumn 2004 to contemplate the need to introduce amendments to the Swedish Competition Act (hereinafter the "Competition Act"), has recently delivered its final Report to the Swedish Secretary for Trade and Industry. The Committee, chaired by the President of the Administrative Court of Appeal Mr. Sten Heckscher, has concluded that certain changes should be introduced to the Competition Act. Although the Committee was unanimous that the present scheme of the Competition Act and its enforcement operate relatively well, it proposed the enactment of a new statute, based on the present Competition Act.

The focus of the reform appears to lie first and foremost in expediting and facilitating proceedings before the institutions responsible for enforcing competition rules, namely the Swedish Competition Authority (hereinafter the "SCA"), the Stockholm District Court, the Market Court and the general courts of law. The aim is to enhance and