Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (Dutch: Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM)) is a Dutch business regulation agency based in The Hague. It is charged with competition oversight, sector-specific regulation of several sectors, and enforcement of consumer protection laws.[1] It enforces Section 24 of the Dutch Competition Act.

Logo of ACM
ACM is headquartered in the Zurichtoren in The Hague.

Organisation

The Authority falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Bernadette van Buchem is the Director of Consumers.[2] Mary Starks is Director of Competition.[3]

History

The ACM was founded on 1 April 2013 through the merger of the Consumer Authority (Consumentenautoriteit, CA), the Independent Postal and Telecommunications Authority (Onafhankelijke Post en Telecommunicatie Autoriteit, OPTA), and the Dutch Competition Authority (Nederlandse Mededingingsautoriteit, NMa).

In 2017 it imposed a fine of EUR 41 million on Nederlandse Spoorwegen for abuse of its position by means of predatory pricing and related practices.[4]

In 2018 it revoked the energy licence of One Select, a sister company of the UK energy supplier, because it could no longer “comply with the requirements of its energy licence”.[5] It approved the takeover by HeadFirst Source Group NV of Myler, a Dutch contract management and global sourcing company.[6] It forced VodafoneZiggo and KPN to open up their fixed networks to third party providers after a market analysis of Wholesale Fixed Access showed that between them they dominated the market.[7] It set new prices for water and electricity on Bonaire from 1 April 2018.[8]

References
  1. "Our organization". The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  2. "Dutch regulator names Jansen as new chair". I Gaming Business. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  3. "Blockchain: Considering The Risks To Consumers And Competition". Mondovisione. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  4. "Abuse of a dominant position in the spotlight". Lexology. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  5. "One Select's Dutch sister company has licence revoked". Utility Week. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. "NETHERLANDS – HEADFIRST COMPLETES MYLER ACQUISITION". Staffing Industry. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  7. "Dutch regulator opens up VodafoneZiggo's fixed network". Broadband TV News. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  8. "Consumer prices on Bonaire increase less rapidly". Statistics Netherlands. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
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