Commissioner Scott named vice-chair of International Competition Network

OTTAWA, April 22, 2004 — Today, the International Competition Network (ICN) adopted four new Recommended Practices for merger notification procedures and created a new working group on cartels at its third annual conference. These measures are designed to improve merger review, reduce administrative burdens for government and business, while enhancing competition policy and law enforcement in the global economy. Canada's Commissioner of Competition Sheridan Scott was also named a vice-chair of the ICN Steering Group.

"The ICN works on finding solutions to the challenges of globalization," said Commissioner Scott. "The problem is obvious: competition law is national but commerce is increasingly global."

This week's conference, held in Seoul Korea from April 21-22, brought together over 120 senior competition officials to promote convergence in multi-jurisdictional merger review, to advance competition law enforcement in developing countries, and to study the role of competition enforcement in regulated sectors. ICN members were joined by international organizations and approximately 60 non-governmental advisors, including representatives of the legal, business, economic, consumer and academic communities.

Canadian Senior Deputy Commissioner of Competition Denyse McKenzie will co-chair a sub-group of the new Cartel Working Group and Assistant Commissioner Sally Southey will co-chair a sub-group of the Competition Policy Implementation Working Group. In addition, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Chris Martin will continue his role as co-chair of the Operational Framework Working Group.

"In three short years, the ICN has produced a series of practical recommendations for improving the way competition agencies perform their important duties," said Ms. Scott. "In the long-run, it's consumers and businesses who will benefit from our collective efforts."

The Competition Bureau was a key player in the creation of the ICN in October 2001 with competition agencies from 13 other jurisdictions around the world. It now includes almost 90 member agencies from almost 80 jurisdictions. The ICN is a project-oriented and consensus-based organization, with members from developed and developing economies. Its Recommended Practices are non-binding but, once adopted by the ICN, they form a baseline for sound competition enforcement practice.

ICN documents are available at www.InternationalCompetiti onNetwork.org.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains fair competition so that all Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality service. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.