Pens with the logo of Germany’s Federal Cartel Office are pictured after a news conference at which the competition authority presented its findings of an investigation into Facebook’s data collection practices, February 7, 2019 in Bonn, Germany. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
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BERLIN, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Germany’s Bundeskartellamt will be given increased powers to crack down on anti-competitive practices found in its assessments of entire sectors, plans by the economy ministry showed on Monday.
These assessments should last a maximum of 18 months, after which there should be another 18 months for possible countermeasures, the ministry said.
The Bundeskartellamt would have the power to smash up industry groups as a last resort under the proposal, which is soon to be subject to an internal government vote, the ministry added.
For example, the agency is conducting an assessment of fuel markets that, under the new rules, could lead to the regulator ordering effective compliance management, changes in supply relationships, or divestitures of business units.
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Reporting by Christian Kraemer, writing by Rachel More, editing by Ed Osmond
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