Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. 1: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (26.11.1998 for certain purposes and prosp. otherwise) by 1984 c. 12, s. 50(3) (as substituted by 1998 c. 41, s. 66(5), Sch. 10 Pt. II para. 2(6) (with s. 73); S.I. 1998/2750, art. 2)
C2Pt. 1 (except ss. 38(1)-(6), 51) amended (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, ss. 86(1)(3), 89 (with ss. 105(2)(d)(5), 106); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. 1
C3Pt. 1 (except ss. 38(1)-(6), 51, 52(6) and (8) and 54) amended (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 86(4)(b)(5) (with ss. 105(2)(d)(5), 106); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. 1
Pt. 1 (except ss. 38(1)-(6), 51) amended (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 86(7)(b) (with ss. 105(2)(d)(5), 106); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. 1
C4Pt. 1 modified (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 371(3), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3)); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)
(1)An agreement is exempt from the Chapter I prohibition if it is exempt from the Community prohibition—
(a)by virtue of a Regulation,
(b)because it has been given exemption by the Commission, or
(c)because it has been notified to the Commission under the appropriate opposition or objection procedure and—
(i)the time for opposing, or objecting to, the agreement has expired and the Commission has not opposed it; or
(ii)the Commission has opposed, or objected to, the agreement but has withdrawn its opposition or objection.
(2)An agreement is exempt from the Chapter I prohibition if it does not affect trade between Member States but otherwise falls within a category of agreement which is exempt from the Community prohibition by virtue of a Regulation.
(3)An exemption from the Chapter I prohibition under this section is referred to in this Part as a parallel exemption.
(4)A parallel exemption—
(a)takes effect on the date on which the relevant exemption from the Community prohibition takes effect or, in the case of a parallel exemption under subsection (2), would take effect if the agreement in question affected trade between Member States; and
(b)ceases to have effect—
(i)if the relevant exemption from the Community prohibition ceases to have effect; or
(ii)on being cancelled by virtue of subsection (5) or (7).
(5)In such circumstances and manner as may be specified in rules made under section 51, the [F1OFT] may—
(a)impose conditions or obligations subject to which a parallel exemption is to have effect;
(b)vary or remove any such condition or obligation;
(c)impose one or more additional conditions or obligations;
(d)cancel the exemption.
(6)In such circumstances as may be specified in rules made under section 51, the date from which cancellation of an exemption is to take effect may be earlier than the date on which notice of cancellation is given.
(7)Breach of a condition imposed by the [F1OFT] has the effect of cancelling the exemption.
(8)In exercising [F2its] powers under this section, the [F1OFT] may require any person who is a party to the agreement in question to give [F2it] such information as [F2it] may require.
(9)For the purpose of this section references to an agreement being exempt from the Community prohibition are to be read as including references to the prohibition being inapplicable to the agreement by virtue of a Regulation or a decision by the Commission.
(10)In this section—
“the Community prohibition” means the prohibition contained in—
paragraph 1 of Article 85;
any corresponding provision replacing, or otherwise derived from, that provision;
such other Regulation as the Secretary of State may by order specify; and
“Regulation” means a Regulation adopted by the Commission or by the Council.
(11)This section has effect in relation to the prohibition contained in paragraph 1 of Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (and the EFTA Surveillance Authority) as it has effect in relation to the Community prohibition (and the Commission) subject to any modifications which the Secretary of State may by order prescribe.
Textual Amendments
F1Word in s. 10 substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 38(8)(a); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)
F2Words in s. 10(8) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 38(8)(b); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)