CHAPTER 417
COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

Arrangement of Sections

   Section

PART I
PRELIMINARY

   1.   Short title

   2.   Interpretation

   3.   Application

PART II
THE COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMISSION

   4.   Continuation and re-naming of Zambia Competition Commission

   5.   Functions of Commission

   5A.   Functions of Board

   6.   Executive Director and other staff

   7.   Inspectors

PART III
RESTRICTIVE BUSINESS AND ANTI-COMPETITIVE TRADE PRACTICES

   8.   Prohibition of anti-competitive practice, agreement or decision

   9.   Horizontal agreements prohibited per se

   10.   Vertical agreements prohibited per se

   11.   Severability

   12.   Other horizontal and vertical agreements

   13.   Inter-connected bodies corporate

   14.   Share of supply threshold for authorisation of restrictive agreements

   15.   Share of supply threshold for establishing existence of dominant position

   16.   Prohibition of abuse of dominant position

   17.   Determination of relevant market

   18.   Application for exemption

   19.   Determination of application for exemption

   20.   Amendment of exemption

   21.   Revocation of exemption

   22.   Exemption in respect of professional rules

   23.   Publication of grant or revocation of exemption

   23A.   Prohibition of relocation of core assets without authorisation

   23B.   Application for authorisation to relocate core assets

PART IV
MERGERS

   24.   Definition of merger

   25.   Reviewable mergers

   26.   Threshold for authorisation of proposed merger

   27.   Other mergers subject to review

   28.   Negative clearance

   29.   Market assessment

   30.   Competition assessment

   31.   Public interest assessment

   32.   Period allowed for assessment

   33.   Undertakings on proposed merger

   34.   Determination of proposed merger

   34A.   Compliance with conditions and undertakings of merger

   35.   Revocation of merger

   36.   Compliance with other laws

   37.   Offences relating to mergers

PART V
MARKET INQUIRIES

   38.   Initiation of market inquiry

   39.   Purpose of market inquiry

   40.   Powers of investigation in connection with market inquiry

   41.   Action to be taken following market inquiry

PART VI
SECTOR REGULATED ACTIVITIES

   42.   Application of Act to sector regulated activities

   43.   Memorandum of understanding with sector regulators

   44.   Market inquiry into regulated sector

PART VII
CONSUMER PROTECTION

   45.   Definition of unfair trading practice

   46.   Prohibition of unfair trading practice

   47.   False or misleading representation

   48.   Display of disclaimers prohibited

   49.   Prohibition of supply of defective and unsuitable goods and services

   50.   Product labelling

   51.   Prohibition for charging more than displayed price

   52.   Consumer product safety

   53.   Unfair contract term

   54.   Complaints on unfair contract term or trading practices, defective goods, misrepresentations, etc.

PART VIII
INVESTIGATIONS AND DETERMINATION BY COMMISSION

   55.   Investigations by Commission

   56.   Decision not to investigate

   57.   Consent agreement and undertaking

   58.   Directions relating to anti competitive business practices and unfair trading

   59.   Directions relating to distortion, prevention or restriction of competition

   60.   Appeals

   61.   Remedies in merger control

   62.   Interim measures

   63.   Review of directions and undertakings

   64.   Enforcement of directions and undertakings

   65.   Enforcement at request of foreign authority

   66.   Regulations relating to investigations

PART IX
THE COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION TRIBUNAL

   67.   Establishment of Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal

   68.   Functions of Tribunal

   69.   Secretariat of Tribunal

   70.   Proceedings of Tribunal

   71.   Powers of Tribunal

   72.   False evidence

   73.   Determination of Tribunal in respect of mergers

   74.   Costs

   75.   Appeal to Court of Appeal

   76.   Expenses of Tribunal

   77.   Allowances of members and secretariat

   78.   Rules

PART X
GENERAL PROVISIONS

   79.   Leniency programme

   80.   Jurisdiction over acts committed outside Zambia

   81.   No execution on property of Commission

   82.   General penalty

   83.   Offences by body corporate or unincorporate body

   84.   Commission to issue guidelines

   85.   Dissemination of information

   86.   Fines

   87.   Regulations

   88.   Repeal of Act 18 of 1994

   FIRST SCHEDULE

   SECOND SCHEDULE

   THIRD SCHEDULE

AN ACT

to continue the existence of the Zambia Competition Commission and re-name it as the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; safeguard and promote competition; protect consumers against unfair trade practices; provide for the establishment of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal; repeal and replace the Competition and Fair Trading Act, 1994; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

[8th October, 2010]

Act 24 of 2010,

Act 9 of 2013,

Act 21 of 2023,

SI 83 of 2010.

[General Note— The principal Act is amended by the deletion of the words "to pay the Commission a fine", wherever the words appear and the substitution therefor of the words "to pay the Commission a penalty" by section 34 of the Act 21 of 2023.]