From 1 September, Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) will present detailed justification of charges, an equivalent of statement of objections - as part of its proceedings.

Detailed justification of charges will be presented to enterprises in all proceedings initiated after 1 September with respect to practices violating collective consumer interests, competition-inhibiting practices, and fines.

UOKiK will present justifications of charges once it has finished gathering evidence in a case, setting out factual and legal grounds for the charges it is bringing and the evidence supporting these charges. In this way, the enterprise concerned will have an opportunity to address the charges before a decision is issued.

The equivalent of the statement of objections used in proceedings before the European Commission and national competition authorities in other EU jurisdictions, the detailed justification of charges is the latest change in procedures intended to enhance procedural fairness, including the right to defence.

To implement this new procedure effectively, UOKiK has formulated guidelines and clarifications on the detailed justification of charges. Earlier implemented measures include rules the Authority follows in presenting the results of sector inquiries it has conducted and guidelines for parties to a proceedings seeking direct contact and dialogue with the Authority, so they may present their position.

Additional information for the media:

Press Office, UOKiK
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone.: +48 22 827 28 92, +48 22 55 60 314, +48 22 55 60 430
E-mail: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]