ORGANISATION MONDIALE
DU COMMERCEWT/WGTCP/W/150
19 décembre 2000
(00-5523)
Groupe de travail de l'interaction du commerce
et de la politique de la concurrenceOriginal:  anglais
COMMUNICATION DE LA THAÏLANDE
La Mission permanente de la Thaïlande a fait parvenir au Secrétariat la communication
ci-après, datée du 11 septembre 2000, en lui demandant de la distribuer aux Membres.
_______________
Législation sur la concurrence de la Thaïlande
Évolution de la législation sur la concurrence de la Thaïlande
1. La législation sur la concurrence de la Thaïlande a débuté par la promulgation de la  Loi de
1947 contre les bénéfices excessifs .  Cette loi n’avait pas pour objet d’interdire les comportements
monopolistiques et anticoncurrentiels, mais essentiellement de protéger les consommateurs des prix
trop élevés.  Ultérieurement, avec l’essor considérable de l’économie thaïlandaise, le gouvernements’est toutefois rendu compte que la Loi de 1947 n’était pas suffisante pour assurer la protection des
consommateurs contre les pratiques commerciales déloyales et les fortes hausses des prix.  C’est la
raison pour laquelle elle a été remplacée par la Loi de 1979 sur la fixation des prix et la lutte contre
les monopoles .
2. La Loi de 1979 est composée de deux parties:  la première traite de la fixation des prix et la
seconde de la lutte contre les monopoles.  La partie de la Loi de 1979 qui traite de la fixation des prix
a pour objet de protéger les consommateurs contre les prix excessifs.  Elle habilite un "Comité centralde fixation des prix et de lutte contre les monopoles", composé de représentants du secteur public et
du secteur privé, à surveiller les fluctuations des prix des biens et des services et à imposer des
réglementations sur les prix maximaux à la vente de certains produits.
3. Les produits figurant sur l’annonce ayant trait à la réglementation des prix au titre de la Loi de
1979 étaient essentiellement des biens de consommation et des produits soumis à des fluctuations deprix irrégulières, tels que la viande de porc, le sucre raffiné, le gaz de cuisine et le café soluble.  Pour
augmenter les prix de ces produits réglementés, les fabricants devaient demander l’approbation
correspondante au Comité central, en fournissant un estimatif des coûts.
4. La partie de la Loi de 1979 qui traite de la lutte contre les monopoles a pour objet de
promouvoir la concurrence loyale.  Elle habilite le Comité central à surveiller les comportementscommerciaux afin d’empêcher les entrepreneurs de vendre des produits à des cours supérieurs aux
prix réglementés, de créer des monopoles et de se livrer à des pratiques commerciales restrictives.  En
cas de violation, le Comité central a tout pouvoi r pour engager une action pénale.  Toutefois, les
dispositions relatives aux pratiques commerciales restrictives et monopolistiques ont été rarement
invoquées et la Loi a été employée principalement pour lutter contre la fixation de prix déloyaux pourles produits de consommation.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 2
5. En 1997, un amendement de la Constitution thaïlandaise a permis de renforcer
considérablement la législation sur la concurrence.  L’article 87 de la Constitution disposait que "le
gouvernement doit appuyer un système économique fondé sur le marché, garantir une concurrence
loyale, assurer la protection du consommateur et lutter contre les pratiques monopolistiques ...".
Selon la Constitution modifiée, l’ancienne "Loi de 1979 sur la fixation des prix et la lutte contre lesmonopoles" n’offre pas une protection adéquate des consommateurs et des petites entreprises contre
les pratiques commerciales déloyales et monopolistiques, spécialement si l’on tient compte du
processus de privatisation actuellement en cours.  C’est pourquoi elle a été remplacée par deux lois
distinctes, la Loi sur les prix des biens et des services , qui est entrée en vigueur le 1
er avril 1999, et
la Loi sur la concurrence , qui est entrée en vigueur le 30 avril 1999.
6. La Loi sur les prix des biens et des services (B.E.  2542, 1999)  interdit la manipulation des
prix des biens et des services.  Elle institue un "Comité central des prix des biens et des services"chargé de superviser toutes les transactions et autres mesures concernant des biens et services
contrôlés.  Sous réserve de l'approbation du Conseil des ministres, ce comité central peut instituer des
prix minimaux à l'achat, des prix maximaux à la ve nte ou d'autres mesures visant à prévenir la
manipulation des prix ou d'autres pratiques commerciales déloyales.
La Loi de 1999 sur la concurrence
Objectif de la Loi
7. La Loi sur la concurrence (B.E.  2542, 1999)1 est entrée en vigueur le 30 avril 1999.  Partant
du principe que les marchés concurrentiels constituent la meilleure façon de promouvoir l’efficienceéconomique et la distribution efficace des ressources, de favoriser l’entrée de nouveaux acteurs sur le
marché, notamment de petites et moyennes entreprises, ainsi que de porter la prospérité économique
et sociale à son maximum, elle a pour objectif d’encourager et de favoriser des pratiques
commerciales libres et loyales.  Elle permettra aux consommateurs de bénéficier ainsi de prix
raisonnables et performants, d’un choix plus étendu et d’une meilleure qualité des biens et desservices.
Comportements anticoncurrentiels aux termes de la Loi
8. Les comportements anticoncurrentiels ont été divisés en trois catégories principales en vertu
de la Loi:  l’abus de position dominante, la fusion et les autres comportements anticoncurrentiels.
i) L’abus de position dominante
9. La partie de la Loi traitant de l’abus de position dominante a été adoptée dans le but de
protéger les concurrents, fournisseurs, acheteurs et consommateurs contre les entreprises
commerciales qui occupent une position de force sur le marché et l’utilisent pour fausser le jeu de la
concurrence et prendre l’avantage ou exercer une influence sur d’autres entreprises commerciales.
Elle vise principalement le comportement des grandes entreprises ayant une position dominante sur le
marché, plutôt que celui des PME.
10. Selon l’ article 2  de la Loi, on entend par entreprise commerciale2 détenant une position
dominante  une ou plusieurs entreprises commerciales opérant sur le marché de tout bien ou service et
                                                     
1 Jointe uniquement en anglais.
2 On entend par "entreprise commerciale" un distribu teur, producteur aux fins de distribution, acheteur
ou importateur aux fins de distribution, ou acheteur en vue de la production ou de la redistribution desmarchandises, ou un fournisseur de services commerciaux.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 3
dont la part de marché et le volume des ventes dépassent le niveau fixé par la Commission de la
concurrence.
11. L’article 25  interdit aux entreprises commerciales détenant une position dominante  de
prendre les mesures ci-après:
1) la fixation ou le maintien abusif du prix d’achat ou de vente de biens ou des
honoraires de services;
2) l’imposition abusive de conditions obligatoires par lesquelles elles exigeraient à leurs
clients de restreindre la prestation de services, la production, l’achat, la distribution de
biens, ou de limiter les possibilités d’acheter ou de vendre des biens, de fournir des
services ou d’obtenir des crédits d’autres entreprises commerciales;
3) la suspension, la réduction ou la restriction de la prestation de services ou de la
production, de l’achat, de la distribution, de la livraison ou de l’importation de bienssans raison justifiée, ou la destruction ou détérioration de biens en vue d’en réduire la
quantité de manière à ce que celle-ci soit inférieure à la demande du marché;
4) l’intervention dans les opérations commerciales d’autres personnes sans raison
justifiée.
12. L’article 30  de la Loi habilite la Commission de la concurrence à rendre une ordonnance
écrite exigeant de toute entreprise commerciale qui détiendrait une position dominante et dont la part
de marché dépasserait 75 pour cent, qu’elle suspende, interrompe ou modifie cette part de marché.
ii) La fusion
13. La partie de la Loi traitant des fusions a été adoptée dans le but d’interdire les fusions
susceptibles d’aboutir à un monopole ou à une situation de concurrence déloyale.  La Loi n’interditpas les fusions en soi, mais subordonne toutes celles qui risquent de réduire la concurrence à une
autorisation préalable de la Commission de la concurrence.
14. Aux termes de l’ article 26 , les entreprises commerciales ne doivent pas réaliser de fusions
3
conduisant à la formation d’une entreprise dont la part de marché, le volume de ventes, le capital, les
stocks ou les avoirs dépasseraient ceux qui ont été définis dans le Journal officiel par la Commissionde la concurrence, dans la mesure où cette situation risquerait d’entraîner la création d’un monopole
ou de générer une concurrence déloyale.  La fusion peut toutefois avoir lieu si elle est autorisée par la
Commission de la concurrence.
iii) Les autres comportements anticoncurrentiels
15. La partie de la Loi relative aux comportements anticoncurrentiels a été adoptée pour interdire
toute entente frauduleuse, collusion ou collaboration entre plusieurs entreprises commerciales pouvant
entraîner la création d’un monopole ou la diminution de la concurrence.
                                                     
3 La Loi définit les fusions d’entreprises de la manière suivante:
1) fusion entre un producteur et un autre producteur, un distributeur et un autre distributeur, un
producteur et un distributeur, un fournisseur de serv ices et un autre fournisseur de services, ayant
pour effet de conserver le statut d’une entreprise et  de mettre fin à celui de l’autre entreprise, ou de
créer une nouvelle entreprise;
2) achat de l’ensemble ou d’une partie des actifs d’ une autre entreprise avec l’intention de prendre le
contrôle de la direction générale, de l’administration et de la gestion de l’entreprise;
3) achat de l’ensemble ou d’une partie des actions d’une autre entreprise avec l’intention de prendre
le contrôle de la direction générale, de l’administration et de la gestion de l’entreprise.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 4
16. Aux termes de l’ article 27 , il est interdit à une entreprise commerciale de conclure une
entente avec une autre entreprise commerciale en vue de prendre des décisions qui aboutiraient à la
création d’un monopole, à la diminution ou à la restriction de la concurrence sur le marché d’un bien
ou d’un service, par l’une des méthodes indiquées ci-dessous:
1) la fixation d’un seul prix de vente de biens ou de services, ou la restriction du volume
des ventes de biens ou de services;
2) la fixation d’un seul prix d’achat de biens ou de services, ou la restriction du volume
des achats de biens ou de services;
3) la conclusion d’un accord visant à s’approprier du marché ou à le contrôler;
4) la conclusion d’un arrangement collusoire ou la définition de conditions ayant pour
objet de permettre à une partie de gagner une soumission ou une adjudication de
biens ou de services, ou d’empêcher une partie de participer à une soumission ou àune adjudication de biens ou de services;
5) la définition de zones géographiques dans lesquelles chaque entreprise commerciale
est autorisée à distribuer des biens ou des  services, ou à restreindre la distribution de
ces biens et services, ou la définition des clients auxquels chaque entreprise
commerciale est loisible de vendre des biens ou de fournir des services de manière àinterdire la concurrence d’autres entreprises commerciales dans la distribution de ces
biens et de ces services;
6) la définition d’une zone géographique dans laquelle chaque entreprise commerciale
peut acheter des biens et des services, ou la définition des personnes auprès
desquelles les entreprises commerciales peuvent acquérir ces biens et ces services;
7) la fixation de la quantité des biens ou des services que chaque entreprise commerciale
peut produire, acheter, distribuer ou fournir, en vue de maintenir cette quantité à un
niveau inférieur à celui de la demande du marché;
8) la diminution de la qualité des biens et des services produits, distribués ou offerts,
alors que la distribution s’effectue au même prix ou à un prix plus élevé;
9) la désignation d’une personne comme distribu teur ou fournisseur exclusif de biens ou
de services;
10) la fixation de conditions ou de pratiques relatives à l’achat ou à la distribution de
biens ou à la fourniture de services dans le but d’obtenir une pratique uniforme ou
convenue.
Au cas où il s’avérerait nécessaire d’un point de vue commercial de prendre l’une quelconque des
mesures dont il est fait mention aux paragraphes 5 à 10 de l’article 27, l’entreprise commerciale devraen demander l’approbation préalable à la Commission de la concurrence.
17. Il s’ensuit que pour agir en violation de l’article 27, trois conditions doivent être remplies:
a) deux entreprises commerciales, ou un nombre supérieur, doivent conclure un accord; b) cet accord
doit se traduire par une décision revenant à exercer un monopole, à diminuer la concurrence ou à luifaire obstacle; c) la décision dont il est question doit figurer dans les paragraphes 1 à 10.
18. La Loi traite en outre des accords d’exclusivité entre les entreprises commerciales nationales
et étrangères.  L’ article 28  interdit à une entreprise commerciale qui entretient une relation de typeWT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 5
contractuel, politique, de partenariat ou de tout autre genre avec une entreprise commerciale
étrangère, d’exercer une activité susceptible de limiter la liberté que possède une personne résidant en
Thaïlande d’acheter directement des biens ou des services à des entreprises commerciales étrangères
pour son usage personnel.  Cette partie de la Loi a également été adoptée pour protéger le droit du
consommateur de s’approvisionner directement auprès des fabricants ou des distributeurs situés endehors de la Thaïlande, à condition que l’achat soit destiné à la consommation personnelle.
19. Afin d’empêcher tout autre comportement anticoncurrentiel qui n’aurait pas été couvert par
les dispositions ci-dessus, l’ article 29  interdit aux entreprises commerciales de prendre toute mesure
qui ne serait pas compatible avec la concurrence libre et loyale et risquerait de détruire,
d’endommager, d’entraver ou de faire échec aux opérations commerciales d’autres entreprises, ou
d’empêcher d’autres personnes d’exploiter leur entreprise, ou de les obliger à la dissoudre.
Exemption
20. La Loi de 1999 ne concerne pas: l’administration centrale, provinciale et locale; les
entreprises d’État; les groupes d’agriculteurs, les coopératives ou les sociétés coopératives reconnus
par la loi et exerçant leurs activités pour le compte des agriculteurs; les entreprises figurant dans la
réglementation ministérielle.
21. En outre, si les comportements anticoncurrentiels figurant à l’article 25, aux paragraphes 1 à 4
de l’article 27, à l’article 28 et à l’article 29 sont strictement interdits, certaines pratiques décrites à
l’article 26 et aux paragraphes 5 à 10 de l’article 27 peuvent être mises en œuvre avec l’accord
préalable de la Commission de la concurrence.  Dans ce cas, la Commission doit rendre sa décision
par écrit dans les 90 jours.
Sanctions
22. Si la Commission de la concurrence estime qu’une entreprise commerciale agit en violation
des articles 25, 26, 27, 28 ou 29, elle est habilitée à rendre une ordonnance par écrit exigeant à
l’entreprise qu’elle suspende, interrompe, rectifie ou modifie l’action contrevenante.  Il est toutefoisdonné à l’entreprise commerciale qui reçoit l’ordonnance et se trouve en désaccord avec les termes de
cette dernière la possibilité de faire appel de ces décisions auprès du "Comité des recours".
4
23. Toute personne contrevenant aux dispositions des articles 25, 26, 27, 28 ou 29, ou ne faisant
pas droit à l’ordonnance de la Commission de la concurrence ou à la décision du Comité des recours
est passible d’un emprisonnement pouvant aller jusqu’à trois ans et/ou d’une amende maximum de six
millions de baht.  Ces sanctions peuvent être infligées non seulement à l’entreprise mais également au
président-directeur général de celle-ci, à l’associé gérant ou à la personne responsable de sonfonctionnement, à moins qu’il ne soit prouvé que l’infraction a été commise à son insu ou sans son
consentement, ou qu’il a déjà pris des mesures raisonnables pour empêcher l’infraction.
24. De plus, la Loi autorise toute personne ayant subi un préjudice par suite d’une violation des
articles 25, 26, 27, 28 ou 29 à engager un procès en dommages-intérêts contre le contrevenant.
Organisme ordonnateur
                                                     
4 Le "Comité des recours" est composé d’un nombre maximum de sept membres qualifiés, nommés par
le Conseil des ministres, et possédant des connaissances et de l’expérience dans les domaines juridique,
économique, de la gestion des entreprises et de l’administration publique.  Ces membres ne doivent pas être des
responsables politiques, ni occuper de postes politiques, ni être membres du bureau ou titulaires d’un poste deresponsabilité dans l’administration d’un parti politique.  Ils exercent leur mandat pendant une période de quatreans.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 6
25. La "Commission de la concurrence", composée du Ministre du commerce, Président, du
Secrétaire permanent du Ministre du commerce, Vice-Président, du Directeur général du Département
du commerce intérieur, membre et secrétaire, du Secrétaire permanent du Ministre des finances, ainsi
que d’un maximum de 12 autres membres qualifiés, est chargée de veiller à l’application de la Loi.
26. Il faut souligner en outre que les personnes qualifiées qui sont nommées en tant que membres,
ne doivent pas être des responsables politiques, ni occuper de postes politiques, ni appartenir au
bureau d’un parti politique, ni être titulaires d’un poste de responsabilité dans l’administration de ce
parti.  Le terme de leur mandat est de deux ans et il ne peuvent être nommés que pour deux mandats
successifs.
Conclusion
27. Il faut espérer que la Loi sur la concurrence de 1999 permettra de protéger aussi bien les
consommateurs que les producteurs contre les pratiques restrictives et de nature à fausser le jeu du
marché, et à créer au sein de l’économie thaïlandaise un climat plus sain et plus libéral, propice au
commerce et à l’investissement.  En outre, cette loi, de même que les réformes du marché et le plan de
restructuration, devrait améliorer la transparence et la prévisibilité des transactions réalisées avec la
Thaïlande.
__________WT/WGTCP/W/150
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Tentative Translation∗∗∗
COMPETITION ACT
B.E.  2542 (1999)
_______________
Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rex.,
Given on the 22nd Day of March B.E.  2542;
Being the 54th Year of the Present Reign.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is graciously pleased to proclaim that:
Whereas it is expedient to have a law on competition by revising the rules relating to
anti-monopoly provided in the law on price fixing and anti-monopoly:
Whereas it is aware that this Act contains certain provisions in relation to the restriction of
rights and liberties of persons, in respect of which section 29, in conjunction with section 31,
section 35, section 36, section 45, section 48 and section 50 of the Constitution of the kingdom of
Thailand so permit by virtue of the provisions law;
Be it, therefore, enacted by the King, by and with the advice and consent of the National
Assembly, as follows:
Section 1.  The Act is called the"Competition Act, B.E.  2542 (1999)".
Section 2.  This Act shall come into force after thirty  days as from the date of its publication
in the Government Gazette.  ∗∗
Section 3.  In this Act:
"business "means an undertaking in agriculture,  industry, commerce, finance, insurance, and
services and shall include other undertakings prescribed by Ministerial Regulations;
"finance "means commercial banking under the law on commercial banking, finance and
credit foncier businesses under the law on operation of finance, securities and credit foncierbusinesses, and securities business under the law on securities and securities exchange;
"business operator "means a distributor, producer for distribution, orderer or importer into the
Kingdom for distribution or purchaser for production or redistribution of goods or a service provider
in the course of business;
                                                     
∗∗∗ COPYRIGHT NOTICE:  This tentative translation is the original work of Dr.  Pinai Nanakorn
(Juridical Official of the Foreign Law Division of the Office of the Council of State) and is prepared in the
author's personal capacity.  The author thus has full copyrights in the work.  The author authorises the
Department of Internal Trade to use this work for any non-commercial purposes.
∗∗ Published in Government Gazette, Vol.  116.  Part 22b, dated 31st March 1999.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 8
"goods "means an article capable of utilisation or consumption, including a document of title
to an article;
"service "means the procurement of work by way of commission, the granting of any right or
the giving of permission to use or to have benefits in any property or any undertaking in return formonetary remuneration or other benefit but shall not include the hire or service;
"price "means a price of goods and shall also include remuneration for the performance of a
service;
"business operator with market domination "means one or more business operators in the
market of any goods or service who have the market share and sales volume above that prescribed bythe Commission with the approval of the Council of Ministers and published in the Government
Gazette, having regard to the market competition;
"Commission" means the Competition Commission;
"member" means a member of the Competition Commission;
"Secretary-General" means the Secretary-General of the Competition Commission;"competent official" means a Government official appointed by the Minister to perform
activities under this Act;
"Minister" means the Minister having charge and control of the execution of this Act.Section 4.  This Act shall not apply to the act of:
(1) Central administration, provincial administration or local administration;(2) State enterprises under the law on budgetary procedure;(3) Farmers' groups, co-operatives or co-operative societies recognised by law and
having as their object the operation of businesses for the benefit of the occupation of farmers;
(4) Businesses prescribed by the Ministerial Regulation, which may provide for
exemption from the application of this Act in whole or only in respect of any particular provision
thereof.
Section 5.  The Minister of Commerce shall have charge and control of the execution of this
Act, provided that in respect of financial undertakings, the Minister of Commerce and the Minister of
Finance shall jointly have charge and control, and shall have the power to appoint competent officials,
issue Ministerial Regulations for the execution of this Act and issue Notifications hereunder.
Such Ministerial Regulations and Notifications shall come into force upon their publication in
the Government Gazette.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 9
CHAPTER I
Competition Commission
_______________
Section 6.  There shall be the Competition Commission consisting of the Minister of
Commerce as Chairman, Permanent-Secretary for the Minister of Commerce as Vice-Chairman,
Permanent-Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and not less than eight, but not more than twelve,
qualified persons with knowledge and experience in law, economics, commerce, business
administration or public administration appointed by the Council of Ministers, provided that at least
one-half of whom must be appointed from qualified members in the private sector, as members andthe Secretary-General shall be a member and secretary.
The appointment of the qualified persons under paragraph one shall be in accordance with the
rules and procedure prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation.
Section 7.  A qualified person appointed as member must  not be a political official, holder of
a political position, executive member or holder of a position with the responsibility in the
administration of a political party.
Section 8.  The Commission shall have the powers and duties as follows:
(1) to make recommendations tot he Minister with regard to the issuance of Ministerial
Regulations under this Act;
(2) to issue Notifications prescribing market share and sales volume of any business by
reference to which a business operator is deemed to have market domination;
(3) to consider complaints under section 18 (5);
(4) to prescribe rules concerning the collection and the taking of goods as samples for the
purposes of examination or analysis under section 19 (3);
(5) to issue Notifications prescribing the market share, sales volume, amount of capital,
number of shares, or amount of assets under section 26 paragraph two;
(6) to give orders under section 30 and section 31 for the suspension, cessation,
correction or variation of activities by business operators;
(7) to issue Notifications prescribing the form rules, procedure and conditions for the
application for permission to merge businesses or initiate the joint reduction or restriction of
competition under section 35;
(8) to consider an application for permission to merge businesses or initiate the joint
reduction or restriction of competition submitted under section 35;
(9) to invite any particular person to give facts, explanations, advice or opinions;
(10) to monitor and accelerate an inquiry sub-committee's conduct of an inquiry of
offences under this Act;
(11) to prescribe rules for the performance of work of the competent officials for the
purpose of the execution of this Act;WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 10
(12) to perform other acts provided by the law to be the powers and duties of the
Commission;
(13) to consider taking criminal proceedings as requested in the complaint lodged by the
injured person under section 55.
Section 9.  The qualified member under section 6 shall hold office for a term of two years.
At the expiration of the term under paragraph one, if a new qualified member is not yet
appointed, the qualified member who vacates office at the expiration of the term shall continue to hold
office for the purpose of the performance of work until a newly appointed qualified member takes
office.
The qualified member who vacates office at the expiration of the term may be re-appointed
but may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
Section 10.  The provisions of section 75, section 76, section 77, section 78, section 79,
section 80, section 81, section 82 and 83 of the Admi nistrative Procedure Act, B.E.  2539 (1996) shall
apply to the appointment of a qualified member, the vacation of office of a qualified member and a
meeting of qualified members mutatis mutandis , and a qualified member shall also vacate office upon
being under the prohibitions under section 7.
Section 11.  The Commission may appoint a sub-committee to consider and make
recommendations on any matter or perform any act as entrusted and prepare a report thereon for
submission to the Commission.
Section 12.  The Commission shall appoint one or more specialised sub-committees
consisting of, for each sub-committee, not less than four and not more than six persons qualified in the
matter concerned and having knowledge and experience in various fields such as law, science,engineering, pharmacology, agriculture, economics, commerce, accountancy, or business
administration as members, with the representative of the Department of Internal Trade as a member
and secretary.
The specialised sub-committee shall elect one member as Chairman.
Section 13.  The specialised sub-committee has the duty to consider and give opinions to the
Commission on the following matters, as entrusted by the Commission:
(1) the matter concerning the conduct indicative of market domination, a merger of
businesses, the reduction or restriction of competition under section 25, section 26, section 27, section
28 and section 29;
(2) the consideration of an application for permission to merge businesses or initiate the
reduction or restriction of competition under section 37;
(3) other matters to be considered at the request of the Commission and other acts to be
performed as entrusted by the Commission.
For the purpose of this Act, a specialised sub-committee may submit opinions or
recommendations to the Commission with regard to the execution of this Act.
In carrying out the acts under paragraph one, the specialized sub-committee shall have the
power to issue a written summons requiring the pe rsons concerned to give statements or furnish
documents or any other evidence for supplementing its consideration.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 11
Section 14.  The Commission shall appoint one or more inquiry sub-committees consisting
of, for each sub-committee, one person possessing k nowledge and experience in criminal cases who is
appointed for police officials, public prosecutors and, in addition, not more than four persons
possessing knowledge and experience in economics, law, commerce, agriculture, or accountancy, as
members, with the representative of the Department of Internal Trade as a member and secretary.
The inquiry sub-committee shall have the power and duty to conduct an investigation and
inquiry in connection with the commission of offences under this Act and, upon completion thereof,
submit opinions to the Commission for further consideration.
The inquiry sub-committee shall elect one member as Chairman.
Section 15.  In the performance of the duties under this Act, a member of the Commission
and a member of an inquiry sub-committee under se ction 14 shall have the same powers and duties as
an inquiry official under the Criminal Procedure Code.
Section 16.  In the case where the Commission submits to the public prosecutor the opinion
for prosecution, an objection to the public prosecutor's non-prosecution order under the Criminal
Procedure Code shall be the power to be exercised by the Chairman of the Commission in place of the
Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Force or the Changwad Governor as the case may
be.
Section 17.  The provisions of section 9 and section 10 shall apply mutatis mutandis  to the
sub-committee, specialised sub-committee and inquiry sub-committee.
CHAPTER II
Office of the Competition Commission
_______________
Section 18.  There shall be established the Office of the Competition Commission in the
Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce, with the Director-General of the Department ofInternal Trade as the Secretary-General, who shall be the superior official responsible for the official
affairs of the Office, with the powers and duties as follows:
(1) to carry out administrative tasks of the Commission, the Appellate Committee and
sub-committees appointed by the Commission;
(2) to prescribe regulations for the purpose of the work performance of the Office of the
Competition Commission;
(3) to monitor the movement and oversee the conduct of business operators and report
the same to the Commission;
(4) to conduct studies, analyses and research in relation to goods, services, and business
conduct and make recommendations and give opinions to the Commission on the prevention of
market domination, merger of businesses and reduction and restriction of competition in the operation
of businesses;
(5) to receive complaints by which it is alleged by any person that violation of this Act
has occurred and to carry out its preliminary consideration for submission to the Commission, in
accordance with the regulations prescribed and published in the Government Gazette by the
Commission;WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 12
(6) to co-ordinate with Government agencies or agencies concerned, for the purpose of
the performance of duties under this Act;
(7) to perform the acts in the implementation of Notifications, regulations and resolutions
of the Commission and perform such acts as entrusted by the Commission, the Appellate Committee
or be sub-committee appointed by the Commission.
Section 19.  In the execution of this Act, the competent official shall have the following
powers;
(1) to issue a written summons requiring any person to give statements, facts or written
explanations or furnish accounts, records, documents or any evidence for examination orsupplementing his consideration;
(2) to enter the place of business, place of production, place of distribution, place of
purchase, warehouse or place of service of the business operator or of any person or other place
reasonably suspected to have therein a violation of the provisions of this Act, for the purpose of
examining the conformity with this Act or for sear ching and seizing evidence or property which may
be confiscated under this Act or arresting the offender under this Act without a warrant of search in
the following cases:
(a) where a flagrant offence is evidently being committed in the place;
(b) where a person having committed a flagrant offence has, while being pursued, taken
refuge, or there are serious grounds for suspecting that such person is concealing, in the place;
(c) where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the evidence or property
which may be confiscated under this Act is found in the place and there are reasonable grounds to
believe that by reason of delay in obtaining a warrant of search the evidence or property is likely to be
removed, concealed, destroyed or transformed from its original state;
(d) where the person to be arrested is the owner of the place and there is a warrant for
such arrest or such arrest may be made without a warrant;
Provided that, for these purposes, the competent official has the power to inquire into facts or
summon accounts, records, documents or other evidence from the business operator or from the
person concerned or order such persons who are in such a place to perform necessary acts;
(3) to collect or take goods, in a reasonable quantity, as samples for an examination or
analysis without payment of the prices of such goods, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the
Commission in the Government Gazette;
(4) to attach documents, accounts, records or  evidence for the purpose of examination
and taking legal proceedings under this Act.
Section 20.  In the performance of duties of the competent official, a person concerned shall
render reasonable assistance.
Section 21.  In the performance of duties, the competent official shall produce an
identification card to the persons concerned.
The identification card shall be in accordance with  the form prescribed by the Minister in the
Government Gazette.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 13
Section 22.  The competent official shall procure service of the written summons under
section 13 paragraph 3, section 19(1) or section 44(3) by directing it at the domicile or the place of
business of the person named in the summons between sunrise and sunset or during working hours of
such person or may send it by registered post requiring acknowledgement of receipt thereof.
In the case where the competent official serves the summons under paragraph one but the
person named in the summons refuses to accept it without reasonable cause, the competent official
shall request the administrative or police official to accompany the competent official for the purpose
of leaving the summon on the spot.  If the competent official does not meet the person named in the
summons at his or her domicile or place of business, the summons may be served on any sui juris
person who is living or working in that dwelling-place or place of business.  If nobody is met or
nobody agrees to accept the summons on behalf of the person named therein, such summons shall be
posted in a conspicuous placed at the domicile or the place of business in the presence of theadministrative or police official who accompanies as witness.
When the competent official has carried out the act under paragraph one or paragraph two, it
shall be deemed that the person named in the summons has received it.  In the case of the posting of
the summons, it shall be deemed that such summons is received upon the lapse of five days as from
the date of its posting.  If the service is made by a registered post requiring acknowledgement of itsreceipt, it shall be deemed that the summons is received upon the lapse of five days as from the date
of its receipt.
Section 23.  In the execution of this Act, members, members of the Appellate Committee or
of the sub-committee, Secretary-General, and competent officials shall be the officials under the Penal
Code.
Section 24.  For the purpose of arresting offenders under this Act, the competent official shall
have the same powers as the administrative or police officer under the Criminal Procedure Code.
An arrest of the offender may be made without a warrant of arrest when a flagrant offence is
evidently being committed or when there is any other circumstance under which the Criminal
Procedure Code permits the administrative or police official to make an arrest without a warrant ofarrest.
CHAPTER III
Anti-Monopoly
_______________
Section 25.  A business operator having market domination shall not act in any of the
following manners:
(1) unreasonably fixing or maintaining purchasing or selling prices of goods or fees for
services;
(2) unreasonably fixing compulsory conditions, directly or indirectly, requiring other
business operators who are his or her customers to restrict services, production, purchase or
distribution of goods, or restrict opportunities in purchasing or selling goods, receiving or providing
services or obtaining credits from other business operators;
(3) suspending, reducing or restricting services, production, purchase, distribution,
deliveries or importation without justifiable reasons, or destroying or causing damage to goods in
order to reduce the quantity to be lower than the market demand;WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 14
(4) intervening in the operation of business of other persons without justifiable reasons.
Section 26.  A business operator shall not carry out a business merger which may result in
monopoly or unfair competition as prescribed and published in the Government Gazette by the
Commission unless the Commissi on's permission is obtained.
The publication by the Commission under paragraph one shall specify the minimum amount
or number of market share, sale volume, capital, shares or assets in respect of which the merger of
business is governed thereby.
The merger of business under paragraph one shall include:
(1) a merger made by a producer with another producer, by a distributor with another
distributor, by a producer with a distributor, or by a service provider with another service provider,
which has the effect of maintaining the status of one business and terminating the status of the other
business or creating a new business;
(2) a purchase of the whole or part of assets of another business with a view to
controlling business administration policies, administration and management;
(3) a purchase of the whole or part of shares of another business with a view to
controlling business administration policies, administration and management.
The application by a business operator for the permission under paragraph one shall be
submitted to the Commission under section 35.
Section 27.  Any business operator shall not enter into an agreement with another business
operator to do any act amounting to monopoly, reduction of competition or restriction of competition
in the market of any particular goods or any particular service in any of the following manners:
(1) fixing selling prices of goods or services as a single price or as agreed or restricting
the sale volume of goods or services;
(2) fixing buying prices of goods or services as a single price or as agreed or restricting
the purchase volume of goods or services;
(3) entering into an agreement with a view to having market domination or market
control;
(4) fixing an agreement or condition in a collusive manner in order to enable one party to
win a bid or a tender for the goods or services or in order to prevent one party from participating in a
bid or a tender for the goods or services;
(5) fixing geographical areas in which each business operator may distribute or restrict
the distribution of goods or services, or fixing customers to whom each business operator may sell
goods or provide services to the exclusion of other business operators from competing in the
distribution of such goods or services;
(6) fixing geographical areas in which each business operator may purchase goods or
services or fixing persons from whom business operators may purchase goods or services;
(7) fixing the quantity of goods or services in which each business operator may produce,
purchase, distribute, or provide with a view to re stricting the quantity to be lower than the market
demand;WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 15
(8) reducing the quality of goods or services to a level lower than that in the previous
production, distribution or provision, whether the distribution is made at the same or at a higher price;
(9) appointing or entrusting any person as a sole distributor or provider of the same
goods or services or the same kind of goods or services;
(10) fixing conditions or practice with regard to the purchase or distribution of goods or
the provision of services in order to achieve the uniform or agreed practice.
In the case where it is commercially necessary that the acts under (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10)
be undertaken within a particular period of time, the business operator shall submit an application for
permission to the Commission under section 35.
Section 28.  A business operator who has business relation with business operators outside
the Kingdom, whether it is on a contractual basis or through policies, partnership, shareholding or any
other similar form, shall not carry out any act in order that a person residing in the Kingdom andintending to purchase goods or services for personal consumption will have restricted opportunities to
purchase goods or services directly from business operators outside the Kingdom.
Section 29.  A business operator shall not carry out any act which is not free and fair
competition and has the effect of destroying, impairing, obstructing, impeding or restricting business
operation of other business operators or preventing other persons from carrying out business orcausing their cessation of business.
Section 30.  The Commission shall have the power to issue a written order requiring a
business operator who has market domination, with the market share of more than seventy five
percent, to suspend, cease or vary the market share.  For this purpose, the Commission may prescribe
rules, procedure, conditions and time-limit for compliance therewith.
Section 31.  In the case where the Commission considers that a business operator violates
section 25, section 26, section 27, section 28 or  section 29, the Commission shall have the power to
issue a written order requiring the business operator to suspend, cease, rectify or vary such act.  For
this purpose, the Commission may prescribe rules, procedure, conditions and time limit for
compliance therewith.
The business operator who receives the order under paragraph one and disagrees therewith
shall have the right to appeal under section 46.
The business operator may not claim compensa tion from the Commission by reason that the
Commission has issued the order under paragraph one.
Section 32.  In the consideration of the case under section 31, the Commission must afford
the business operator, members of the specialized sub-committee, members of the inquiry
sub-committee or competent officials concerned reasonable opportunities to give explanations andpresent supporting evidence.
In issuing an order under section 31,  the Co mmission must specify reasons for such order
both in questions of fact and in questions of law, and signatures of the members considering the case
shall be entered.
The notification of the order under paragraph two shall be carried out within seven days as
from the date of the Commission's order, and section 22 shall apply mutatis mutandis .WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 16
Section 33.  The person receiving the order under section 31 must comply with such order
unless the Court or the Appellate Committee passes a judgement or issues an order suspending the
execution thereof or revoking the order of the Commission.
Section 34.  In the case where the Court passes a judgement that any business operator is
guilty of an offence under section 25, section 26, sect ion 27, section 28 or section 29, the Court shall
issue an order requiring the business operator to suspend, cease, rectify or vary such act.
CHAPTER IV
Application for Permission and Consideration of the Application
_______________
Section 35.  Any business operator wishing to apply fo r permission to carry out the act under
section 26 or section 27(5), (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10) shall submit an application in accordance with the
form, rules, procedure and conditions prescribed and published in the Government Gazette by the
Commission.
The application must at least:
(1) contain adequate reasons and specify necessity for the act;
(2) specify the intended procedures therefor;
(3) specify the duration therefor.Section 36.  The Commission shall complete the consideration of the application under
section 35 within ninety days as from the date of its receipt;  provided that the business operator,
members of the specialised sub-committee or competent officials concerned must be afforded
reasonable opportunities to give explanations and present supporting evidence.
In the case where the consideration cannot be completed within the time specified in
paragraph one by reason of necessity, the Commission may grant an extension of time for not more
than fifteen days, but the reasons and necessity fo r the extension shall also be recorded in the
consideration and decision proceedings.
Section 37.  When the Commission has made an inquiry and is of the opinion that the
application under section 35 submitted by the business operator is reasonably necessary in the
business, beneficial to business promotion, has no serious harm to the economy and has no effect on
material and due interests of general consumers, the Commission shall issue a written order grantingpermission in favour of such business operator.  But if the Commission issues an order rejecting
permission, the order shall be notified in writing to the business operator without delay.
In granting permission under paragraph one, the Commission may fix the time or any
condition for compliance by the business operator to whom permission is granted, and, if it is of the
opinion that economic situations, facts or conduct relied on by the Commission in its considerationhave changed, the Commission may amend, make addition to , or revoke such time or conditions at
any time.
The business operator who receives the order of the Commission and disagrees with such
order shall have the right to appeal under section 46.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 17
Section 38.  The Commission must specify reasons for the order granting or rejecting
permission under section 37 both in questions of fact and in questions of law and the order shall
contain signatures of the members considering the application, and the provisions of section 32
paragraph three shall apply mutatis mutandis .
Section 39.  The business operator to whom permission is granted under section 37 must
carry out the business within the scope, duration and conditions permitted by the Commission.
In the case here there is a violation of or failure to comply with paragraph one, the
Commission shall have power to revoke the permissi on order under section 37 in whole or in part and
may also fix the time within which compliance is required.
CHAPTER V
Initiation of an Action for Compensation
_______________
Section 40.  The person suffering an injury in consequence of the violation of section 25,
section 26, section 27, section 28 or section 29 may initiate an action for claiming compensation fromthe violator.
In initiating an action for claiming compensation under paragraph one, the Consumer
Protection Commission or an association under th e law on consumer protection has the power to
initiate an action for claiming compensation on behalf of consumers or members of the association, asthe case may be.
Section 41.  If the action for claiming compensation under section 40 is not submitted to the
Court within one year as from the date the person suffering the injury has or ought to have had the
knowledge of the ground thereof, the right to submit the action to the Court shall lapse.
CHAPTER VI
The Appeal
_______________
Section 42.  There shall be an Appellate Committee consisting of not more than seven
qualified persons with knowledge and experience in law, economics, business administration or
public administration appointed by the Council of Ministers as members.
The members of the Appellate Committee shall elect one member among themselves as
Chairman.
The Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade shall appoint Government officials
of the Department of Internal Trade to act as secretary and assistant secretaries.
Section 43.  The person appointed as member of the Appellate Committee must not be under
the prohibitions under section 7 and shall not be a member of the Commission.
Section 44.  The Appellate Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) to prescribe the rules and procedure for the appeal under section 47 paragraph one;WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 18
(2) to consider and decide on the appeal against an order of the Commission under
section 31 and section 37;
(3) to issue a written summons requiring the persons concerned to give statements or
furnish documents or evidence for the purpose of the consideration of the appeal;
(4) to issue an order suspending the execution of the order of the Commission under
section 31 or section 37.
Section 45.  A member of the Appellate Committee shall hold office for a term of four years.
In the initial period, at the expiration of two years, three members of the Appellate Committee
shall vacate office by drawing lots and such vacation of office by drawing lots shall be deemed to be
the vacation of office at the expiration of the term.
The provisions of section 9 paragraph three and section 10 shall apply to the Appellate
Committee mutatis mutandis .
Section 46.  The appeal against the order of the Commission under section 31 and section 37
shall be submitted to the Appellate Committee by the person receiving the order within thirty days as
from the date of the knowledge of the Commission's order.
Section 47.  The rules and procedure for the appeal shall be as prescribed and published in the
Government Gazette by the Appellate Committee.
The Appellate Committee shall consider and decide on the appeal within ninety days as from
the date of the receipt thereof and notify the decisi on in writing to the appellant, and the provisions of
section 36 and section 38 shall apply mutatis mutandis .
The decision of the Appellate Committee shall be final.
When the Appellate Committee has decided upon the appeal, the Commission and business
operators shall comply with such decision.WT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 19
CHAPTER VII
Penalties
_______________
Section 48.  Any person who fails to comply with the written summons issued by the
specialised sub-committee, competent official or the Appellate Committee under section 13 paragraph
three, section 19 (1) or section 44 (3), as the may be, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding five thousand Baht or to both.
Section 49.  Any person who obstructs the performance of duties by the competent official
under section 19(2), (3) or (4) or section 22 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
one year or to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand Baht or to both.
Section 50.  Any person who fails to render assistance to the competent official under
section 20 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to a fine notexceeding two thousand Baht or to both.
Section 51.  Any person who violates section 25, section 26, section 27, section 28 and
section 29 or fails to comply with section 39 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
three years or to a fine not exceeding six million Baht or to both, and, in case of the repeatedcommission of the offence, shall be liable to the double penalty.
Section 52.  Any person who fails to comply with the order of the Commission under section
30 or section 31 or with the decision of the Appellate Committee under section 47 shall be liable to
imprisonment for a term of one to three years or to a fine of two to six million Baht, and to a dailyfine not exceeding fifty thousand Baht th roughout the occurrence of such violation.
Section 53.  Any person who discloses information concerning the business or the operation
of a business operator which, according to the ordinary course of dealing of the business operator, is
the restrictive and confidential information and which such person has acquired or knew on account of
the performance under this Act shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or
to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand Baht or to both, unless it is the disclosure in theperformance of Government service or for the purpose of an inquiry or trial.
Any person who acquires or has the knowledge of any fact from the person under paragraph
one and discloses such information in the manner likely to cause an injury to any person shall be
liable to the same penalty.
Section 54.  In the case where the person who commits an offence punishable under this Act
is a juristic person, then, the managing director, the managing partner or the person responsible for the
operation of the business of the juristic person in such matter shall also be liable to the penalty
provided by the law for such offence unless it is proved that such act has been committed without hisor her knowledge or consent or he or she has already taken reasonable action for preventing the
commission of such offence from occurring.
Section 55.  The injured person in the offences under section 51 and section 54 may not
institute a criminal action on his or her own motion but has the right to lodge a complaint with theCommission for consideration under this Act.
Section 56.  All offences under this Act which are punishable by fine or imprisonment for a
term not exceeding one year shall be under the power of the Commission to settle the cases.  InWT/WGTCP/W/150
Page 20
exercising such power, the Commission may entrust a sub-committee, the Secretary-General or a
competent official to act on its behalf.
When the offender has paid the fine in the fi xed amount within the specified time, the case
shall be deemed settled in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.
17
Transitory Provision
_______________
Section 57.  In the case where a business operator is under necessity and has carried out the
acts specified in section 27(5), (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10) on the day this Act comes into force, such
person shall submit an application within ninety days as from the date of the entry into force of this
Act, and when the application has been submitted, such business operator may continue to carry out
the acts under section 27(5), (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10) until the notification of the result of theconsideration of the application is received.
Countersigned by:
  Chuan Leekpai
    Prime Minister
__________