Firms can now get clarity on certain competition law issues under a new process being trialled at the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

This week saw the OFT issue its first advice under the new Short-form Opinion process, which aims to provide guidance to businesses who want clarity on how the law applies to prospective collaboration agreements between competitors which raise “novel or unresolved” competition issues.

The new process is being trialled in response to feedback from business that some potentially beneficial collaboration between companies is not proceeding due to concerns about infringing competition law, which carries civil and, in some circumstances, criminal sanctions.

The process involves parties submitting a statement of facts agreed between themselves.

Jackie Holland, OFT director of competition policy, says: “This process is a straightforward and quick way of providing clarity on competition law to businesses planning innovative forms of collaboration. We hope that this process … will ensure companies are not prevented from undertaking legitimate and beneficial arrangements.”

For more information, visit http://www.oft.gov.uk or contact the OFT on the public enquiries line, 0845 7224499 or by email at [email protected]