The Federal Cartel Office (BKartA) actual like the national trust authorities - a competition authority. It is the Federal Ministry for economics and technology assigned independently working federal upper authority of the Federal Republic of Germany. After over 40 years in Berlin the authority shifted its seat on 1 October 1999 to Bonn in the course Berlin/Bonn law.

The authority, whose task (in co-operation with the national trust authorities) is the protection of the competition, has a household of 17 million euro (conditions 2005) and 300 coworkers, of whom half is scarce lawyers or economists.

Basis of the activity of the Federal Cartel Office is also the law well-known as restrictive trade practice act against restraints of trade, which stepped on 1 January 1958 into force, and which was adapted to 2005 last to the current requirements. Apart from the Federal Law the authority can use also your-genuinly, if the European commission does not do this.

The major tasks of the Federal Cartel Office exist in the penetration of the trust prohibition, the execution of union control as well as in the practice of the supervision of abuse over dominating the market enterprises. The Federal Cartel Office can forbid in particular unions of enterprises, forbid abusive behaviors, give editions and impose fines. In addition the authority has large determination powers.

The Federal Cartel Office actual so far the GWB nothing else determines - not responsibly for circumstances, whose meaning does not go beyond the area of a Land of the Federal Republic. For this the national trust authorities are responsible. Fusion controls starting from certain turnover thresholds are accomplished by the EG-Kommission (EEC fusion control regulation), briefly: FKVO.

The decisions of the Federal Cartel Office are made in principle by one of the eleven resolution departments. The Federal Ministry for economics has thereby no instruction power. Against orders of the Federal Cartel Office know above all the applicant (if available), the persons and enterprises, against whom the order is directed, as well as third-concerned, which beige-load to the procedure are, pleas seize, first complaint to the higher regional court Duesseldorf, following the right complaint to the Federal High Court. If the Federal Cartel Office forbade a union, also a Minister permission can be requested with the Federal Minister for economics.

For special tasks the Federal Cartel Office Referate and/or special commissions formed, so for instance the Referate European trust right or general matters of principle or the special commission trust fight.

The report on the activities of the Federal Cartel Office reports in the two-yearly rhythm in detail on the work of the office.

President of the Federal Cartel Office is at present Ulf would bend.

Related links

• bundeskartellamt.de - official Website of the Federal Cartel Office

Articles in category "Federal Cartel Office"

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