Schedule 11: Investigatory powers: markets
287.This Schedule makes provision for the enforcement of investigatory powers under section 174 of the EA 2002. The intention is to align the enforcement of information gathering powers relating to the markets process with those relating to the mergers process.
288.Under existing section 175 of the EA 2002 failure to comply with an information request from the OFT in relation to a potential market reference is a criminal offence. This differs to civil penalties that apply in failing to comply with a CC information request relating to either mergers (section 109) or markets (section 176) inquiries.
289.Paragraph 3 of the Schedule repeals section 175 of the EA 2002 so that failure to comply with a section 174 request will no longer be a criminal offence. However, paragraph 1 of the Schedule extends the existing civil enforcement for Phase 2 requests so that financial penalties can be imposed if there is a failure to comply with investigatory requests at any stage of the markets process. This aligns the civil enforcement and penalties across mergers and markets processes.
290.The level of penalty imposed is described in new 174D, set out in paragraph 1 of Schedule 11.
291.Penalties for non-compliance can continue to be imposed up to 4 weeks after the investigatory powers cease to be exercisable for the purpose for which, in that case, they were exercised.
292.Under the existing section 176(1)(b) (markets) and section 110(5) (mergers) of the EA 2002 it is a criminal offence to intentionally alter, suppress or destroy any document which is required to be produced as a result of information gathering powers for Phase 2 investigations (mergers and markets). Paragraph 4 of the Schedule repeals section 176 of the EA 2002, and paragraph 1 replaces it, mirroring the provisions set out in section 110 of the EA 2002. The result is that the application of the criminal offence described here is consistent with the extended investigatory powers and will apply to the end to end markets process.