Anti-monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China

(npc.gov.cn)     Updated : 2015-08-17

Chapter VII Legal Liabilities

Article 46 Where an undertaking, in violation of the provisions of this Law, concludes and implements a monopoly agreement, the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law shall instruct it to discontinue the violation, confiscate its unlawful gains, and, in addition, impose on it a fine of not less than one percent but not more than 10 percent of its sales achieved in the previous year. If such monopoly agreement has not been implemented, it may be fined not more than RMB 500,000 yuan.

If the business manage, on its own initiative, reports to the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law about the monopoly agreement reached, and provides material evidence, the said authority may, at its discretion, mitigate, or exempt the undertaking from, punishment.

Where a trade association, in violation of the provisions of this Law, has arranged the undertaking in the trade to reach a monopoly agreement, the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law may impose on it a fine of not more than 500,000 yuan. If the circumstances are serious, the administrative department for the registration of public organizations may cancel the registration of the trade association in accordance with law.

Article 47 Where an undertaking, in violation of the provisions of this Law, abuses its dominant market position, the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law shall instruct it to discontinue such violation, confiscate its unlawful gains and, in addition, impose on it a fine of not less than one percent but not more than 10 percent of its sales achieved in the previous year.

Article 48 Where the undertakings, in violation of the provisions of this Law, implement concentration, the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law under the State Council shall instruct them to discontinue such concentration, and within a specified time limit to dispose of their shares or assets, transfer the business and adopt other necessary measures to return to the state prior to the concentration, and it may impose on them a fine of not more than 500,000 yuan.

Article 49 To determine the specific amount of fines prescribed in Articles 46, 47 and 48, the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law shall consider such factors as the nature, extent and duration of the violations.

Article 50 Where the monopolistic conduct of an undertaking has caused losses to another person, it shall bear civil liabilities according to law.

Article 51 Where an administrative development or an organization authorized by laws or regulations to perform the function of administering public affairs abuses its administrative power to eliminate or restrict competition, the department at a higher level shall instruct it to rectify; the leading person directly in charge and the other persons directly responsible shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law. The authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law may submit a proposal to the relevant department at a higher level for handling the matter according to law.

Where otherwise provided for by laws or administrative regulations in respect of administrative departments or organizations authorized by laws or regulations to perform the function of administering public affairs that abuse their administrative power to eliminate or restrict competition, such provisions shall prevail.

Article 52 Where, during the review and investigation conducted by the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law, a unit or individual refuses to provide relevant materials or information, or provides false materials or information, or conceals, or destroys, or transfers evidence, or refuses to submit to or obstructs investigation in any other manner, the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law shall instruct it/him to rectify, and a fine of not more than 20,000 yuan shall be imposed on the individual and not more than 200,000 yuan on the unit; if the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan but not more than 100,000 yuan shall be imposed on the individual and not less than 200,000 yuan but not more than one million yuan on the unit; and if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Article 53 Where an undertaking is dissatisfied with the decision made by the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law in accordance with the provisions of Article 28 or 29 of this Law, it may first apply for administrative reconsideration according to law; and if it is dissatisfied with the decision made after administrative reconsideration, it may bring an administrative action before the court according to law.

Where an undertaking is dissatisfied with any decision made by the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law other than the decisions specified in the preceding paragraph, it may apply for administrative reconsideration or bring an administrative action before the court according to law.

Article 54 Where a staff member of the authority for enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law abuses his power, neglects his duty, engages in malpractices for personal gain, or divulges commercial secrets he comes to have access to in the course of law enforcement, which constitutes a crime, he shall be investigated for criminal liability according to law; and if his case is not serious enough to constitute a crime, he shall be given an administrative sanction according to law.

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Article 55 This law is not applicable to undertakings who exercise their intellectual property rights in accordance with the laws and administrative regulations on intellectual property rights; however, this Law shall be applicable to the undertakings who eliminate or restrict market competition by abusing their intellectual property rights.

Article 56 This Law is not applicable to the association or cooperation by agricultural producers or rural economic organizations in their business activities of production, processing, sale, transportation, storage of farm products, etc.

Article 57 This Law shall go into effect as of August 1, 2008.

The English translation is for reference only and if there is any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.