The guide, published on 6 October 2019 and available in French and Dutch, aims to provide professional associations with guidance on the type of information that can lawfully be exchanged between their members and the tools that can be made available to members of associations in order to help them set their prices.
In this context, professional associations should ensure that the exchange of information taking place between their members complies with the principles set out by the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) and, if necessary, review their activities in the light of these principles.
For several years (including 2019), professional associations have been among the BCA's key enforcement priorities. In the guidelines, the BCA focuses on the following aspects:
- Periodic market reports;
- Price comparisons;
- Information on expected market developments; and
- Modules and formulas for cost calculation and/or price determination.
