The Irish Government abolishes a below-cost pricing regulation (Groceries Order)

On 8 November 2005, the Irish government announced that it would revoke the much maligned Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 (“Groceries Order”) legislation that was enacted to tackle anti-competitive below-cost pricing conducted by large retailers. In its place, the government proposes introducing new legislative measures that will further fortify already existing competition law provisions which, the government argues, represent the most effective and proportionate means of dealing with anti-competitive behaviour. The Groceries Order was created with the express intent of deterring predatory pricing in the food retail sector. Indeed one of the main inspirations behind its introduction was the