On 1 June 2010, new rules governing the application of EU competition rules to vertical agreements came into effect. The new rules consist of a new Vertical Block Exemption Regulation which provides a legal “safe harbour” for certain agreements from the application of the EU rules and revised guidelines which assist parties in assessing the compatibility of their vertical agreements with EU competition law (particularly if the market share threshold for the application of the new Exemption is exceeded).   

The attached document sets out some of the key changes in the new rules.