Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (Autoriteit Consument & Markt) is a business regulation agency based in The Hague. It is charged with competition oversight, sector-specific regulation of several sectors, and enforcement of consumer protection laws.[1] It enforces Section 24 of the Dutch Competition Act.
Bernadette van Buchem is the director of consumers.[2] Mary Starks is Director of Competition.[3]
In 2017 it imposed a fine of EUR 41 million on Nederlandse Spoorwegen for abuse of its position by means of predatory pricing and related practices.[4]
In 2018 it revoked the energy licence of One Select, a sister company of the UK energy supplier, because it could no longer “comply with the requirements of its energy licence”.[5] It approved the takeover by HeadFirst Source Group NV of Myler, a Dutch contract management and global sourcing company.[6] It forced VodafoneZiggo and KPN to open up their fixed networks to third party providers after a market analysis of Wholesale Fixed Access showed that between them they dominated the market.[7] It set new prices for water and electricity on Bonaire from 1 April 2018.[8]
References
- "Our organization". The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "Dutch regulator names Jansen as new chair". I Gaming Business. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "Blockchain: Considering The Risks To Consumers And Competition". Mondovisione. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "Abuse of a dominant position in the spotlight". Lexology. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "One Select's Dutch sister company has licence revoked". Utility Week. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "NETHERLANDS – HEADFIRST COMPLETES MYLER ACQUISITION". Staffing Industry. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "Dutch regulator opens up VodafoneZiggo's fixed network". Broadband TV News. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- "Consumer prices on Bonaire increase less rapidly". Statistics Netherlands. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.