Competition, vertical restrictions: amend. regul. 17/62/EEC, 1st regulation implementing art. 85 and 86, EC Treaty

OBJECTIVE: to relax the notification procedure provided for in Regulation no 17 (application of Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty). SUBSTANCE: The Commission proposes extending the exemption from notification provided for in Article 4(2) of Regulation no 17, replacing the existing clause with a new one laying down that all agreements concluded between two or more undertakings each operating at a different stage of the economic process in respect of the supply and/or purchase of goods for resale or processing or in respect of the marketing of services are exempt from notification under paragraph 1 of that Article. The Commission may in future, even in cases of late notification, consider whether the agreements in question satisfy the conditions of Article 85(3) and, if so, it could then adopt an exemption decision taking effect on the date on which the agreement was entered into.�