Written application about possible violation of the Competition Law should include the following information:

• persons involved in violation;
• evidences, which testifies about the possible abuse, on which this application is based;
• rules of the Competition Law, which are possibly violated;
• facts, testified about well-grounded interest of person to prevent violation of Competition Law;
• measures taken to prevent violation before receiving of application in the Competition Council.

Proceedings of judgement of case

The Competition Council can initiate a case on the basis of:

• application;
• initiative of the Competition Council;
• report of other institution.

After receiving of application the Competition Council within 30 days examines information included in application about possible violation of the Competition Law and adopts decision on initiation or rejection of case as well as informs submitter about decision or about application’s transmition to other institution, if examination of application do not comply with area of authority of the Competition Council.

Many cases Competition Council initiate by its own action – either following development in markets with high concentration, or obtaining information from mass media and other sources.

Time-limits to be observed by the Competition Council and parties involved for examination of possible violation are provided by the Competition Law. Obligation of any physical or legal person is to submit information requested by the Competition Council in specified dates. Independent experts can be invited for examination of specific cases.

Times for case investigation in the Competition Council can be different, beginning with one month until two years.

Decisions of the Competition Council

The Competition Council adopts decisions about:

• initiation or rejection of case;
• prolongation of date of adoption of decision;
• establishment of violation, imposition of legal obligation and fines;
• termination of case examination;
• merger of market participants;
• notified agreement;
• violations of the Advertising Law.

Decisions of Competition Council are binding for market participants and alliances of market participants which either perform economic activities already or prepare themselves to do so.

The Competition Council has been endowed the rights to apply punitive sanctions to preclude market participants from possible violations as well as to stimulate market participants to withdraw from prohibited agreements. The fines imposed shall be counted into the State basic budget.

Decisions adopted by the Competition Council (excepting decisions on case initiation or prolongation of date of adoption of decision) participant of proceedings can appeal in the District Administrative Court in time within one month, counting from the day when the decision was in written form announced to the participant of proceedings.

Decisions adopted by the Competition Council are published in the newspaper Latvijas Vēstnesis (the official Gazette of the Government of Latvia) as well as in section Decisions of CC of the latvian language home page of Competition Council.