On Friday 4 February, the European Commission invited stakeholders to comment until 18 February on draft guidelines on the exchange of information between a buyer and a supplier in a ‘dual distribution’ relationship.
This consultation complements a first public consultation opened in July 2021 in the context of the ongoing review of the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (330/2010) and the Guidelines on Vertical Restraints (see EUROPE 12759/12), a part of EU antitrust law that expires on 31 May 2022.
The analysis of the contributions to the first consultation showed that the regulation and the guidelines are “useful tools that facilitate the assessment of vertical agreements and help reduce compliance costs for businesses”, the European Commission said in a statement. Nevertheless, it identifies room for improvement and the need to adapt the rules to the digitalisation of the economy.
Similarly, further guidance, which would be incorporated into the Guidelines on Vertical Restraints, is needed on the type of information that can be exchanged between a supplier and a buyer engaged in a dual distribution relationship.
See the consultation document: https://aeur.eu/f/6X
Participate in the public consultation: https://aeur.eu/f/6y (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)