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ARTICLE · 28 JULY 2010

New Vertical Agreements Block Exemption

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The new vertical agreements block exemption regulation for distribution of goods and services (the "New Block Exemption") and vertical restraint guidelines (the "New Guidelines") were adopted by the European Commission on 20 April 2010.

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Anthony Woolich
Anthony Woolich
Cécile Schlub
Cécile Schlub

The new vertical agreements block exemption regulation for distribution of goods and services (the "New Block Exemption") and vertical restraint guidelines (the "New Guidelines") were adopted by the European Commission on 20 April 2010. The New Block Exemption entered into force on 1st June 2010 with a transitional period of one year ending 31 May 2011 for pre-existing agreements that meet the conditions of the previous block exemption. The New Block Exemption will expire on 31 May 2022.

What is a vertical agreement?

Vertical agreements are entered into between parties acting at different levels of the supply chain, such as supply and distribution agreements between manufacturers and wholesalers or retailers. A vertical agreement falling under the New Block Exemption will be deemed to have no anti-competitive effects, or the positive effects that it contains will be deemed to compensate for the anti-competitive effects. Therefore, EU competition rules will not

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