Proposal to restrict the sale of refrigerants
Commission reaches preliminary view to authorise a
proposal to restrict the sale of refrigerants
The
Commerce Commission has reached a preliminary view that the
Refrigerant License Trust Board’s proposal to restrict
sales of refrigerants to trained and certified people is not
likely to lessen competition in any market.
The Commission today published its draft determination on the application for authorisation made under section 58 of the Commerce Act.
The Refrigerant License Trust Board is seeking authorisation for wholesalers of refrigerants to enter into a voluntary agreement. This agreement would result in the wholesalers who participate only selling refrigerants to those customers trained to safely handle them.
Dr Mark Berry, Commerce Commission Chair said, “The Commission’s preliminary view is that the proposed arrangement will have little impact on the competitive environment, given that participation will be voluntary.”
The Commission reached
the preliminary view that the proposed arrangement would
contain an exclusionary provision that has the potential to
breach the Commerce Act. However, the exclusionary provision
is likely to lead to a public benefit that outweighs any
detriment.
The relevant markets for the purpose of the
Commission’s analysis are those for the importation and
wholesale supply of all refrigerants, the supply and
installation of refrigeration and air conditioning systems,
and the service and maintenance of refrigeration and air
conditioning systems.
The Commission is seeking submissions on its draft determination by 14 October 2011. Submissions will be posted on the Commission’s website. The Commission intends to release a final determination on the proposal by late October 2011.
You can view the draft determination on the Commission’s website at: www.comcom.govt.nz/anti-competitive-practices-authorisations-register
Background
The Refrigerant License Trust Board is a charitable trust which has the purpose of promoting, educating, and training people in the safe handling of refrigerants.
What is an
application for a restricted trade practice
authorisation?
Under section 61 of the Commerce Act, the
Commission can grant authorisation for a practice that may,
in the applicant’s view, breach the restrictive trade
practice provisions of the Commerce Act.
In this case, the applicant considered that the agreement might substantially lessen competition in a market and might contain a provision excluding the supply of refrigerants to those parties who were not properly trained or certified (termed an exclusionary provision).
ends