Investigations, Policy Research

The Investigations, Policy and Research Analysis Division (DIPRA) of the Competition and Consumer Authority deals with investigations, research and policy issues. Competition focuses on the need to maintain fair markets in the economy by addressing anti-competitive practices or behaviour, whilst research concerns the provision of information and analytics mainly for decision making in competition matters; The main functions of the Division are: In order for the CCA to guard against practices that have the effect of substantially lessening competition, the Authority, time and again carries out market inquiries or surveys. The Authority may carry out a market inquiry if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that there is a restriction or distortion of competition. An investigation may be carried out after a complaint has been reported to the Authority by an individual or business, through telephone, electronic mail, in person or any other legal means of communication. Hence the Authority will at times be pro-active or reactive when carrying out studies, depending on the urgency of the matter. The Authority is mandated by the Competition Act to shall publish its findings at the conclusion of an enquiry. Therefore, the community will benefit as they will get to know the likely implication of the anti-competitive practices that would have been investigated and the action taken. Basing on the results of a market enquiry, the Authority may advise the Government on some of the policies or agreements that have an adverse effect on competition. The Authority is mandated to do Advocacy, in line with Section 5 of the Competition Act on advising the government on the actual or likely anti-competitive effects of current or proposed policies or legislation.