Competition Parliament approves strengthening of civil antitrust law

SDA

4.6.2025 - 18:01

Parliament wants to strengthen civil antitrust law and allow private individuals to bring actions. Both chambers support a revision of the Cartel Act. (symbolic image)
Parliament wants to strengthen civil antitrust law and allow private individuals to bring actions. Both chambers support a revision of the Cartel Act. (symbolic image)
Keystone

In future, private individuals and the public sector will be able to bring civil action if they are affected by unlawful restrictions on competition. Parliament has amended antitrust law accordingly.

Keystone-SDA

On Tuesday, the National Council, as the second chamber, approved the partial revision of the Cartel Act by 120 votes to 58, with 12 abstentions. The bill will return to the Council of States due to controversial points.

In addition to modernized merger control aligned with international standards and an improved right to object, the bill also includes a strengthening of civil antitrust law. According to the Federal Council, civil proceedings relating to antitrust violations are rare; the revision is intended to pave the way for this.

Anyone affected by unlawful restrictions of competition often chooses the generally free route via administrative proceedings, the Federal Council wrote. Even if no claims for damages, satisfaction and disgorgement of profits can then be made.