UOKiK announces long-term organisational changes

Poland
Available languages: PL

In the present situation, the competition authorities are taking a number of actions directly related to fighting the effects of the coronavirus crisis (Covid-19). However, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection ("UOKiK") also has very significant plans regarding long-term changes in the functioning of the office – indicating which areas may be UOKiK's priority in the future.

The draft of UOKiK’s new statutes comprises plans for significant structural changes, including:

  1. Formation of a new unit (Department of Prevention of Bid-Rigging) dealing exclusively with bid-rigging. This demonstrates that fighting irregularities in tenders will continue to be on UOKiK’s radar. On the other hand, relieving the Competition Protection Department (which until now has also dealt with bid-rigging) may also mean that UOKiK will have more resources to operate in other areas related to competition protection (illegal agreements, abuse of a dominant position).
  2. The Department of Contractual Advantage will be formed at UOKiK’s headquarters to coordinate UOKiK’s tasks arising from the Act on Counteracting the Unfair Use of Contractual Advantage in the agri-food sector. To date, these responsibilities, in principle, have been carried out only by UOKiK’s regional branch office in Bydgoszcz.

We will continue to monitor the status of the new project as well as current developments and notify you of any significant changes.