The CCCS Guidance Note on collaborations between competitors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19 Guidance Note”) will expire on 31 July 2021. For collaborations that end after the COVID-19 Guidance Note expires, CCCS will evaluate them using the criteria applicable under normal circumstances, to assess whether they would infringe section 34 of the Competition Act.

CCCS intends to issue a General Business Collaboration Guidance Note (“Business Collaboration Guidance Note”) to provide businesses with more clarity on common collaborations between competitors so that businesses can collaborate in compliance with competition law with greater confidence. A public consultation exercise will be held shortly to seek feedback on the draft General Business Collaboration Guidance Note.