FTC Issues Notice Regarding Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Informal Hearing

February 7, 2024

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• Consumer Protection
• Bureau of Consumer Protection
• Advertising and Marketing
• Endorsements, Influencers, and Reviews
• Online Advertising and Marketing

On January 16, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission published a notice in the Federal Register containing the initial and final notice of an informal hearing on February 13, 2024, regarding the Proposed Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials. During the hearing, which will be open to the public and viewable on the FTC’s website, hearing participants will be providing oral statements. The Commission has issued a notice addressing issues raised in a document submitted in response to the notice of informal hearing by one of the hearing participants.

The Commission vote approving publication of the notice was 3-0.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.

Autoridades participam da posse de novos conselheiros do Cade

Cerimônia antecedeu a abertura da 223ª Sessão Ordinária de Julgamento da autarquiaCompartilhe:

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Publicado em 07/02/2024 13h57 Atualizado em 07/02/2024 14h21

Nesta quarta-feira (07/02), o Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (Cade) realizou a cerimônia de posse dos novos conselheiros Camila Cabral Pires Alves, Carlos Jacques Vieira Gomes, Diogo Thomson de Andrade e José Levi Mello do Amaral Júnior. O evento, que antecedeu a abertura da 223ª Sessão Ordinária de Julgamento, reuniu representantes de instituições públicas e privadas, além de servidores e membros do Tribunal Administrativo da autarquia.

A cerimônia contou com a presença do presidente do Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) e ministro do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), Alexandre de Moraes; dos também ministros do STF, Gilmar Mendes e Dias Toffoli; do Procurador-Geral da República, Paulo Gonet; do ministro da Advocacia-Geral da União, Jorge Messias; do secretário-executivo do Ministério da Justiça, Manoel Carlos Neto; dos ministros do Superior Tribunal de Justiça, Ricardo Villas Bôas Cueva, Benedito Gonçalves, Luiz Alberto Gurgel de Faria, Mauro Campbell Marques, Geraldo Og Fernandes; do ministro-chefe do Gabinete de Segurança Institucional da Presidência da República, Marcos Antônio Amaro dos Santos; do presidente da Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB), Beto Simonetti, dentre outras autoridades. 

O presidente do Cade, Alexandre Cordeiro, ressaltou a importância do dia para o Conselho e para a defesa da concorrência no Brasil. “Os conselheiros e a conselheira chegam para se somar à melhor agência antitruste das Américas e uma das melhores do mundo”, afirmou. Cordeiro relembrou sua chegada à instituição e destacou as impressões iniciais que teve da autarquia. “Me lembro quando entrei no Cade, em 2015, indicado pela então presidenta Dilma. Percebi que esse era um lugar diferente. Algumas características dessa instituição me chamaram a atenção: altíssima qualidade técnica, excelente ambiente de trabalho e respeito conquistado perante a sociedade brasileira e, também, no exterior”, destacou. Por fim, Cordeiro desejou sucesso aos novos conselheiros. “Arrisco a dizer que essa será uma das melhores formações que o Conselho terá. Ganha o Cade, ganha a sociedade, ganha a concorrência e ganha o Brasil”, afirmou.  

O procurador-geral da República, Paulo Gonet, mencionou a admiração que tem pelo Cade e desejou sucesso aos novos conselheiros. Gonet relembrou que já atuou na autarquia como procurador-chefe e assegurou que a instituição segue cumprindo com uma missão que é essencial para o país. “Tenho certeza de que o Cade continuará cumprindo a sua vocação de regular o que é preciso regular”, destacou.

O ex-conselheiro do Cade, ministro Ricardo Villas Bôas Cueva, também destacou o papel da instituição na defesa econômica do país . “É uma alegria ver como essa autarquia tão importante para a defesa econômica do país se consolidou como uma das principais e mais respeitadas autoridades de defesa da concorrência do mundo”, concluiu. 

Provisional go-ahead for domestic appliances deal

CMA provisionally clears the anticipated deal between Arçelik and Whirlpool, finding that consumers will continue to have a wide range of choiceFrom:Competition and Markets AuthorityPublished8 February 2024

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally found that the deal between Arçelik and Whirlpool is not likely to raise significant competition concerns.

Arçelik and Whirlpool are two of the largest suppliers of major domestic appliances (MDAs) in the UK, including washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and cooking appliances. Arçelik supplies MDAs primarily under the Beko, Blomberg and Grundig brands, and Whirlpool supplies MDAs primarily under the Indesit and Hotpoint brands.

The provisional decision to clear the deal has been made by an independent CMA panel, as part of an in-depth Phase 2 investigation. The panel considered a wide range of evidence, including extensive engagement with Arçelik and Whirlpool, their customers, competitors, and others. Based on this evidence, the panel has provisionally found that consumers will continue to have a wide range of choices following the deal. 

The panel found that although Arçelik and Whirlpool both have strong market positions, they will continue to face significant competition from other suppliers. This includes well known suppliers and brands such as BSH (including its Bosch and Neff brands), Haier Group (including its Hoover and Candy brands), Samsung and LG; retailers’ ‘private label’ brands such as Logik and Bush (Currys and Argos); and more recent entrants such as Hisense. 

The panel found that the competitive landscape has changed considerably in recent years and continues to do so. Whirlpool’s market position in MDAs has significantly declined over the last decade, and it is likely that its European MDA business will be fundamentally different in the future. At the same time, suppliers such as Haier Group and Hisense have gained market share, and it is likely that they will continue to expand. These market dynamics are supported by a range of evidence, including from internal documents, financial analysis and third parties.

Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel conducting the investigation, said:

We have engaged extensively with customers, competitors, and others to understand the impact of this deal on businesses and consumers. Based on this engagement, and other evidence, we have provisionally found that there will continue to be significant competition in the coming years. We have also provisionally found that Whirlpool’s market position has declined, whilst new entrants to the UK are continuing to grow at a material rate.

Our provisional view is therefore that following this deal consumers will continue to benefit from a wide range of options for major domestic appliances.

Today’s findings are provisional, and the CMA will now consult on its findings and listen to any further views before reaching a final decision.

The CMA welcomes responses from interested parties to its provisional findings by 29 February 2024. These will be considered ahead of the CMA issuing its final report, which is due by 26 March 2024.

For more information, visit the  Arçelik /Whirlpool case page.

Notes to editors

1. Pursuant to a Contribution Agreement dated 16 January 2023, Arçelik will set up a new standalone business, Beko Europe B.V., to which Arçelik will contribute its European MDA and small domestic appliances businesses and Whirlpool will contribute its EMEA MDA business. On completion of the deal, Arçelik will hold c.75%, and Whirlpool will hold c.25%, of the shares in Beko Europe.
2. The CMA has provisionally found that the deal may not be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in any markets in the UK, including for the supply of washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and cooking appliances (which comprises cookers, ovens and hobs).
3. The parties and other interested parties have until 5pm (UK time) on 29 February 2024 to make representations to the CMA on these provisional findings.
4. For more information, journalists should contact the CMA press office by email on press@cma.gov.uk or by phone on 020 3738 6460.