Cartels

Information for business about cartels.

Cartels are the most serious form of anti-competitive behaviour. They are agreements between businesses not to compete with each other.

It is a criminal offence for individuals to engage dishonestly in the most serious cartel activities:

• agreements to limit production or supply
• bid-rigging
• market-sharing
• price-fixing.

This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

If you think a business you deal with is involved in a cartel, you should contact us.

Admitting participation

If you alert the OFT to a cartel you are or have been involved in, you may be dealt with leniently. Businesses may be given total or partial immunity from fines and individuals may be given immunity from prosecution.

To qualify for leniency, you have to admit participation in the cartel, cooperate with the investigation and stop your cartel activity right away.

To tell us about a cartel you’re involved in, contact us.

For more information see the cartels area.

Back to: Competing fairly