UNCTAD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTARY PEER REVIEW OF COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY: SEYCHELLES VOLUNTARY PEER REVIEW OF COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY VOLUNTARY : SEYCHELLES UNITED NATIONS Layout and Printing at United Nations, Geneva – 1405509 (E) – July 2014 – 1,142 – UNCTAD/DITC/CLP/2014/2 UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTARY PEER REVIEW OF COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY: SEYCHELLES New York and Geneva, 2014 2 VOLUNTARY PEER REVIEW OF COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY NOTE UNCTAD serves as the focal point within the United Nations Secretariat for all matters related to competi- tion policy. UNCTAD seeks to further the understanding of the nature of competition law and policy and its contribution to development and to create an enabling environment for an efficient functioning of markets. The work of UNCTAD is carried out through intergovernmental deliberations, capacity-building activities, policy advice and research and analysis on the interface between competition policy and de- velopment. Voluntary peer reviews of competition law and policy carried out by UNCTAD fall within the framework of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices, adopted by the General Assembly in 1980. The Set seeks, among other things, to assist devel- oping countries in adopting and enforcing effective competition law and policy suited to their develop- ment needs and economic situation. This Voluntary Peer Review of Competition Law and Policy has been prepared in response to the request of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts as stated in the Report of the Intergovernmental Group of Ex- perts on Competition Law and Policy on its thirteenth session (TD/B/C.I/CLP/25). The opinions expressed in this Voluntary Peer Review are those of the peer reviewers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Secretariat. The designations employed and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the United Nations Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or regarding its economic systems or degree of development. Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgement is requested, to- gether with a copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint to be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat. This publication has not been formally edited. UNCTAD/DITC/CLP/2014/2 Copyright © United Nations, 2014 All rights reserved. SEYCHELLES 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Voluntary peer reviews of competition law and policies are conducted by UNCTAD at the annual meet- ings of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy or at the five-yearly Unit- ed Nations Conferences to review the Set. The substantive preparation is carried out by the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch of UNCTAD under the direction of the Head of Branch, Hassan Qaqaya. This review was prepared for UNCTAD by Alex Kububa and Carl Buik. The substantive backstopping and review of the report was the responsibility of Hassan Qaqaya. UNCTAD would like to acknowledge the valuable assistance provided by George Tirant, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Trading Commission of Seychelles. UNCTAD would also like to acknowledge the commissioners and staff of the Commission who contributed during the preparation of this report, as well as all the representatives of different public and private sector institutions who were interviewed. 4 VOLUNTARY PEER REVIEW OF COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CCC COMESA Competition Commission CCOPOLC Competition and Consumer Policy and Law Committee COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa EEMZ Exclusive Economic Maritime Zone FTC Fair Trading Commission IPRs intellectual property rights ICN International Competition Network ICPEN International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network IMF International Monetary Fund GDP gross domestic product NATCOF National Consumer Forum OFC Offshore Financial Centre PUC Public Utilities Corporation PPP purchasing power parity SADC Southern African Development Community SCCI Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry SENPA Seychelles Enterprise Promotion Agency SFA Seychelles Fishing Authority SBS Seychelles Bureau of Standards SIB Seychelles Investment Board SIBA Seychelles International Business Authority SLA Seychelles Licensing Authority SMB Seychelles Marketing Board SPTC Seychelles Public Transport Corporation SRC Seychelles Revenue Commission SSDS Seychelles Sustainable Development Strategy STC Seychelles Trading Company UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development WTO World Trade Organization SEYCHELLES 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART ONE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND ............................................................ 7 PART TWO CURRENT LEGISLATION ON COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ......................................................................... 8 I. FAIR TRADING COMMISSION ACT .................................................................................. 9 A. Preliminary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 9 B. Fair Trading Commission................................................................................................................................................. 9 C. Staff of the Commission .................................................................................................................................................. 9 D. Finances of the Commission ........................................................................................................................................ 10 E. Complaints to, investigations by and procedures before Commission ........................................... 10 F. Hearings before the Commission ............................................................................................................................. 11 G. Appeal Tribunal ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 H. Appeal against a Tribunal decision ........................................................................................................................... 12 I. Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12 II. FAIR COMPETITION ACT ................................................................................................. 13 A. Preliminary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 13 B. Fair Trading Commission................................................................................................................................................. 17 C. Restrictive business practices ...................................................................................................................................... 17 D. Investigation by and hearings before the Commission .............................................................................. 23 E. Assessment of restrictive business practices ..................................................................................................... 24 F. Determination of cases by the Commission and penalties and remedies ..................................... 24 G. Appeals ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 H. Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................................................................................ 25 III. CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT ....................................................................................... 25 A. Preliminary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 25 B. Fair Trading Commission................................................................................................................................................. 25 C. Unfair contract terms ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 D. Unfair trade practices ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 E. Fair value, good quality and safety................................................................................................................................................. 30 F. Consumer safety .................................................................................................................................................................. 31 G. Industry codes ......................................................................................................................................................................