Agriculture Act 2020

31 Recognised organisations: competition exemptions and further provision

(1) Schedule 2 amends Schedule 3 to the Competition Act 1998 (general exclusions) so as to exclude certain agreements between members of recognised organisations from the Chapter 1 prohibition.

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make further provision about recognised organisations.

(3) The type of provision that may be made in the regulations includes—

(a) ongoing requirements with which a recognised organisation must comply;

(b) provision about the monitoring and enforcement of those requirements.

(4) Provision made by virtue of subsection (3) may (among other things) include provision—

(a) about the provision of information;

(b) about the keeping of records;

(c) about the suspension or withdrawal of recognition;

(d) about appeals;

(e) conferring functions (including functions involving the exercise of a discretion) on a person.

(5) The regulations may also include provision about the extent to which, and the circumstances in which, recognised organisations may delegate certain functions, which may include a procedure requiring that an organisation request permission from the Secretary of State.

(6) In this section, “recognised organisation” means—

(a) a recognised producer organisation,

(b) a recognised association of producer organisations, or

(c) a recognised interbranch organisation.