Calls for competition exemptions

Jersey's Chamber of Commerce says the island's planned new competition law will harm small businesses if no exemptions are granted.

The organisation says not all businesses should be treated the same way and is calling for firms with less than £1m turnover a year to be exempt.

The Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority is not allowing exemptions.

It said the size of a business did not automatically mean it would not act in an anti-competitive way.

Fair deal

The final stage of the law is being brought in by the States to prevent companies from abusing their position and guard against anti-competitive behaviour.

From Tuesday, businesses will need to check they are compliant with the new competition law or risk prosecution from the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority (JCRA).

Ray Shead from the Chamber of Commerce argued the chamber's members had not had been involved in a proper debate and it was not fair to treat all businesses in the same way.

JCRA executive director Bill Brown said it was sympathetic to smaller businesses but it was important to remember the law was designed to give consumers a fairer deal.