Fair Trading Commission

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) was established in 1993 as the agency responsible for administering the Fair Competition Act (FCA), Jamaica’s competition legislation. Accordingly, the main functions of the FTC are to investigate commercial activities to determine whether business enterprises are engaging in anti-competitive practices; and to undertake and publicize information regarding matters affecting the interest of consumers.

The FCA was promulgated to ensure that the benefits of the completion process in Jamaica are not hindered by anti-competitive activity; and is made up of two broad categories of prohibitions – those dealing with anti-competitive behaviour and those dealing with consumer protection. The objectives of the Act are to:

• Encourage competition in the conduct of trade and business in Jamaica;
• Ensure that all legitimate business enterprises have an equal opportunity to participate in the Jamaican economy;
• Provide consumers with better products and services, a wide range of choices at the best possible prices.

Some of the issues covered by the FCA are abuse of dominance, exclusive dealing, market restriction, price fixing and misleading advertising.