THE HAGUE, 14/06/06 - A Lower House majority wants the Netherlands Mergers and Monopolies Authority (NMa) to be required to deal with important complaints by consumer organisations.

"The position of the consumer must be strengthened in competition law," CDA MP Jan ten Hoopen believes. "This could be done if interested persons combine their complaints and an organisation can go to the NMa on their behalf."

The biggest government party can expect support from the biggest opposition party, Labour (PvdA). "The NMa should deal with a complaint by a consumer organisation in the same way as a complaint by one company about another company," in PvdA MP Frank Heemskerk's view. "In practice, that means a weightier procedure for consumer complaints, which cannot be rejected just like that."

Heemskerk and Ten Hoopen also want to tighten up competition law with a provision for sending managers leading a cartel to prison in serious cases. This would however mean that the NMa would transfer the worst offences to the Public Prosecutor (OM). So far, both tracking down and penalising cartels has been a matter for the NMa. As far as a House majority is concerned, this 'all in one hand principle' should be ended.

Heemskerk and Ten Hoopen also want the NMa to have more powers. As well as raiding companies, it should also be allowed to raid homes. The House will discuss the proposals with Economic Affairs Minister Laurens Jan Brinkhorst in the coming week.

In modernising the Competition Act, Ten Hoopen also wants to relax the rules for small companies. As an example, he noted that small suppliers must more or less accept the purchasing power of large supermarket concerns. Independent retailers should also be able to work in partnership more easily on advertising and offers, in the CDA MP's view.