Saturday, 28 March 2020

COVID-19 relaxation of competition law for Isle of Wight Ferries


COVID-19 relaxation of competition law for Isle of Wight Ferries

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Transport (DfT) have announced the suspension of certain aspects of competition law to allow Isle of Wight ferry operators to collaborate in the face of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).

The measures are based on paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 of the Competition Act which provides that where the Secretary of State is satisfied that there are ‘exceptional and compelling reasons’ in the public interest why the Chapter I prohibition ought not to apply to an agreement or any agreement of a particular description, they may exclude them from the prohibition.

Ferry operators in the Isle of Wight will be able to work together to allow for essential food, freight and medical supplies to be transported between the Isle of Wight and the mainland.

The measure follows a similar announcement last week that elements of competition law will be temporarily relaxed for the food sector to allow for essential business cooperation.

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