The Autorité publishes a new framework document on competition compliance programmes

The revision of the compliance framework document initially published in 2012

A group of experts from the private sector (companies, trade associations and law firms) and representatives of the Autorité de la concurrence was formed in 2020 to identify a set of best practices in terms of compliance. The group's work showed that market participants again wanted a reference text on compliance programmes in competition law.

It is in this context that the Autorité de la concurrence decided to update the framework document on competition compliance programmes originally published in 2012 and withdrawn following the introduction of the settlement procedure¹.

Consideration of the conclusions of the public consultation

A draft framework document on competition compliance programmes was submitted for public consultation to gather the views of all stakeholders. The Autorité de la concurrence has carefully considered each of the contributions received, and thanks all contributors for their analyses.

Today, the Autorité is publishing the final version of this document.

The provision of a broader set of resources to support the compliance efforts of stakeholders

The text includes an introduction recalling the powers of the Autorité de la concurrence in its market surveillance mission, as well as three parts respectively dedicated to:

• the benefits of compliance programmes,
• the conditions and criteria which, in the opinion of the Autorité, must be met to ensure their effectiveness,
• the role that the various compliance stakeholders can play in contributing to its overall success.

The guidelines are supplemented by a broader set of resources that the Autorité is making available to companies and professional bodies to support their compliance efforts.

These additional resources are presented in the last section of the framework document.

They can also be consulted on the Autorité website in the space entirely dedicated to "Compliance" ("Competition and you" section).

[1]  Press release of 19 October 2017 on the settlement procedure and compliance programmes.