Press Release: Antitrust: Commission prolongs and amends block exemption for liner shipping consortia

The European Commission on 25 April 2005 renewed until 25 April 2010 a block exemption allowing shipping companies to enter into consortium agreements covering the maritime transport of cargo to or from one or more EU ports. The block exemption, first adopted in 1995 and previously renewed in 2000, automatically covers liner shipping consortia which have a market share of below 30% (or 35% if operated outside a so-called liner conference). The European Commission also introduced some minor amendments, following consultations with Member States and interested parties.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Competition: Antitrust: Legislation: Maritime Transport http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/transport/legislation_maritime.html

European Commission: SCADplus: Activities: Transport: Competition in Transport: Exemption for certain categories of agreements between liner shipping companies (consortia) http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l26095.htm

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