Consumer Protection

Revolut Fined €11 Million for Unfair Commercial Practices

AGCM fined Revolut Securities Europe UAB, Revolut Group Holdings Ltd, and Revolut Bank UAB a total of €11 million for unfair commercial practices. The Authority found three distinct violations: €5 million for failing to clearly disclose costs and limitations of commission-free investments including fractional shares; €5 million for using aggressive practices in managing payment account suspensions, limitations, and blocks without adequate pre-contractual information or advance notice; and €1.5 million for failing to provide clear information on requirements and timeframes for obtaining an Italian IBAN. The Authority found the conduct breached Articles 20, 21, 22, 24, and 25 of the Italian Consumer Code.

CCS Consults on the Proposed Acquisition of Certain Assets by Zuellig Pharma Holdings Pte. Limited

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has opened a public consultation on Zuellig Pharma Holdings Pte. Limited's proposed acquisition of certain assets from Eli Lilly and Company, specifically the rights to manufacture, register, commercially use, distribute and exploit Cialis (Tadalafil) for human use in Singapore. The consultation closes on 16 April 2026 at 5 p.m. CCS accepted the application on 27 March 2026 and is assessing whether the transaction may result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market in Singapore.

DOJ OIG Audit of Civil Rights Division Security Controls and CRT-JCON System

The DOJ Office of the Inspector General published Audit Report 26-045 on April 1, 2026, examining the security controls of the Civil Rights Division and the CRT-Justice Consolidated Office Network (CRT-JCON) system. The audit was conducted pursuant to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 for Fiscal Year 2025. The full audit findings are available via the linked PDF report.

Civil Rights Division Information Security Management Program Audit FY2025

The DOJ Office of Inspector General completed Audit Report 26-044 examining the Civil Rights Division's information security management program for Fiscal Year 2025, pursuant to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014. The audit identified four recommendations for the Division to improve its information security posture. The full audit findings and recommendations are contained in a 26-044.pdf document accessible from the OIG reports page. This audit represents an internal government accountability review and does not impose external compliance obligations on private-sector entities.

Showbag Safety Inspections Completed for 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show

NSW Fair Trading completed safety inspections of more than 400 showbags at the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show, which runs from 2 to 13 April 2026 at Sydney Olympic Park. Inspectors identified one toy marketed for children under 36 months with small parts that could detach and pose a choking hazard; the trader agreed to remove the item before sale. Four cosmetic products were found to be missing mandatory ingredient labelling required under the Consumer Goods (Cosmetics) Information Standard 2020; traders took steps to affix compliant labelling prior to sale. No products containing button batteries were identified, and overall compliance rates improved compared to previous years. NSW Fair Trading will maintain an inspector presence throughout the show.

NSW Fundraising Reforms Harmonise With ACNC National Standards

NSW Fair Trading's charitable fundraising reforms took effect on 1 April 2026, significantly reducing administrative and regulatory burden for charities conducting cross-border or online fundraising by replacing separate NSW authority applications with a 'deemed authority' linked to ACNC registration. Registered charities no longer need to apply separately for a NSW fundraising authority and may rely on their existing ACNC registration to automatically fundraise in NSW, supporting the national 'tell us once' initiative. Existing NSW fundraising authority holders were automatically transitioned to deemed authority status on 1 April 2026, allowing them to continue fundraising in NSW without additional notification requirements.

ACCC Warns Fuel Retailers to Pass on Excise Cuts

The ACCC has warned fuel retailers they must fully and promptly pass on the Federal Government's fuel excise reductions — a combined cut of approximately 32 cents per litre (cpl) including a 26.3 cpl cut effective 1 April 2026 and a further 5.7 cpl cut under a States and Territories deal. The ACCC is actively monitoring fuel prices across capital cities and over 190 regional locations, has sent a letter to major fuel companies demanding full pass-through, and has served substantiation notices on several distributors across SA, WA, QLD and the Northern Territory requiring them to justify sizable fuel surcharges on remote-area deliveries within three weeks.

MicroStar Acquisition of Konvoy Faces Phase 2 Review

The ACCC has decided that MicroStar Logistics LLC's proposed acquisition of Konvoy Holdings Pty Ltd's assets requires an in-depth Phase 2 review, citing concerns that the deal could substantially lessen competition in Australia's keg pooling services market. MicroStar, operating as Kegstar, and Konvoy are the only two suppliers of keg pooling services in Australia. The ACCC has not reached a final conclusion and will continue its assessment, with submissions on the Phase 2 Notice due by 20 April 2026.

NBN Performance Report: Fixed-Line Speeds Near Plan Targets, FTTN Connections Underperforming

The ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia report for December 2025 found that NBN fixed-line services delivered 98.5% of advertised plan download speeds during busy hours (7pm-11pm weekdays). The newly upgraded NBN Home Fast plan (500/50 Mbps) recorded average busy-hour speeds of 493.7 Mbps, though 6.3% of services on this plan were classified as underperforming. Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connections continued to lag, with 11.8% of services underperforming — the vast majority classified as 'impaired' by NBN Co meaning the connection's measured maximum speed falls below the purchased plan speed.

Financial Literacy Month Events and Webinars — April 2026

SCDCA announced a series of five free webinars throughout April 2026 in recognition of National Financial Literacy Month, covering topics including imposter scams, budgeting and credit basics, credit reports and scores, electric bill understanding, and debt collection. The agency also highlighted its free publication ordering service, the LifeSmarts consumer challenge for teens, and its outreach presentation program, which in 2025 delivered 229 presentations to approximately 6,367 consumers and business representatives statewide.

BioMarin / Amicus Therapeutics Merger Phase 1 Clearance

The European Commission cleared the proposed concentration between BioMarin Pharmaceutical and Amicus Therapeutics under the simplified procedure, finding that the merger does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market under Article 6(1)(b) of the EU Merger Regulation. The notification was received on 10 March 2026 with a provisional deadline of 17 April 2026; the decision was issued ahead of schedule on 1 April 2026.

LCL / Groupe Milleis Concentration Provisional Deadline Expires Under FSR

European Commission case FS.100291 concerning the LCL / Groupe Milleis concentration under Regulation 2022/2560 has reached a procedural milestone. The provisional deadline and suspension period under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) expired on 31 March 2026. The case was notified on 24 February 2026 and covers financial service activities and insurance sectors under NACE Rev. 2.1 codes L.64 and L.65. No substantive FSR concerns have been identified.

Malta Recalls Sterimar Dolphin Plush Toy Over Choking Hazard

The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) has issued a recall for the Sterimar Dolphin Plush Toy distributed through pharmacies in Malta and Gozo. Testing identified that the toy's eye components may detach, posing a choking hazard for infants and young children. Distribution has been halted and pharmacies have been notified. Consumers who received the toy are instructed to immediately stop use and safely dispose of it. No standard recall remedy applies, as the toy was supplied as a free promotional item.

EPH / TTE / EFG Concentration Foreign Subsidies Review Under FSR Regulation 2022/2560

The European Commission registered case FS.100299 concerning a concentration involving EPH, TTE, and EFG under Regulation 2022/2560 (Foreign Subsidies Regulation). The notification was filed on 25 February 2026, with a provisional deadline of 01 April 2026. The case concerns economic activities in electricity, gas, and steam supply (NACE Rev. 2.1 codes D.35, D.35.15, D.35.22, D.35.23). The provisional deadline and suspension period under FSR expired on 01 April 2026.

Audit of FBI Security Controls and Document Management Systems, FISMA 2025

The DOJ Office of the Inspector General published Audit Report 26-040, examining the Federal Bureau of Investigation's security controls for two classified systems: the Bureau Investigative Document Management and Analysis System and the Global Mission Analytics Cloud System. The audit was conducted pursuant to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 for Fiscal Year 2025. The full report is available as a PDF attachment on the OIG website. Specific audit findings and recommendations were not included in the posted summary.

Office of Justice Programs Security Controls and PSOB System 2.0 Audit, FISMA Fiscal Year 2025

The DOJ Office of Inspector General published Report 26-043, an audit of the Office of Justice Programs' security controls and the Public Safety Officers Benefits System 2.0. The audit was conducted pursuant to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 for Fiscal Year 2025. The report, posted March 31, 2026, identifies security control deficiencies in OJP's information system and PSOB 2.0 that require remediation by the agency.

OJP Information Security Management Program Audit - FISMA FY2025

The DOJ Office of the Inspector General published Audit Report 26-042 on March 31, 2026, evaluating the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) information security management program for Fiscal Year 2025 under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014. The audit examined whether OJP implemented appropriate controls to protect its information systems and data. The OJP, which administers over $7 billion in federal grants to support state and local law enforcement and criminal justice programs, was assessed across multiple FISMA metrics including risk management, configuration management, incident response, and continuous monitoring. Findings and recommendations are documented in the full report.

Audit of the FBI's Information Security Management Program Pursuant to FISMA 2014, FY2025

The DOJ Inspector General completed an audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Information Security Management Program pursuant to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 for Fiscal Year 2025. The audit, published March 31, 2026 under Report Number 26-039, identified 12 recommendations for improving the FBI's information security posture.

Audit of FBI Security Controls, Huntsville MDF and Pocatello Data Center, FISMA FY2025

The DOJ Office of the Inspector General published Audit Report 26-041, examining the Federal Bureau of Investigation's security controls for the Huntsville Main Distribution Frame facility and the Pocatello Data Center, pursuant to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 for Fiscal Year 2025. The report, posted on March 31, 2026, is available via the DOJ OIG website in PDF format. As an audit under FISMA authority, this document may contain findings and recommendations for improving the FBI's information security posture at these two facilities.

Harmonisation Reforms for Charities and Fundraisers Effective 1 April 2026

The NSW Government has implemented harmonisation reforms for charitable fundraising effective 1 April 2026, aligning NSW laws with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) framework. ACNC-registered charities are now automatically deemed to hold a NSW fundraising authority upon notifying the ACNC of their intent to fundraise, eliminating the need for separate NSW applications. Deemed authority holders must comply with 16 National Fundraising Principles as an enforceable condition and meet ACNC reporting requirements in lieu of NSW-specific financial reporting and record-keeping obligations.

Revised Food and Grocery Code of Conduct Now in Force

The revised Food and Grocery Code of Conduct came into force on 1 April 2026, imposing new mandatory obligations on ALDI, Coles, Metcash and Woolworths in their dealings with grocery suppliers. Large grocery businesses must now include specific information in all grocery supply agreements about the circumstances under which they can make unilateral changes, require supplier payments, or set off payments from supplier invoices. The Code also introduces enhanced transparency requirements around opt-out provisions and mandatory good faith negotiation obligations during range reviews and supplier price increase requests.

East Coast Gas Supply Tight - Storage Critical for Winter 2026

The ACCC's March 2026 interim gas inquiry report projects the east coast gas market will have a supply-demand balance ranging from a 12 PJ shortfall to a 3 PJ surplus in Q3 2026, depending on LNG producer exports. Southern states face a 16 PJ supply gap in July 2026 alone. Iona Underground Gas Storage in Melbourne's west, the largest storage facility, is on track to be full by early May. Contract prices for 2026 averaged $13.55/GJ for producers and $13.93/GJ for retailers, both up approximately 3-4% from the prior quarter.

ACCC Grants Qantas, American Airlines Interim Authorization for Trans-Pacific Routes

On 1 April 2026, the ACCC granted interim authorization to Qantas Airways Limited and American Airlines Inc to continue cooperating on trans-Pacific routes between Australia/New Zealand and the United States, Canada and Mexico. The interim authorization enables the ACCC to continue its assessment of the substantive application AA1000709 for revocation and substitution. Affected parties should monitor the ACCC's public register for updates on the substantive application.

CPSC Warns Consumers to Stop Using Male-to-Male Extension Cords, Secures Delisting from E-Commerce Platforms

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has secured removal of hazardous male-to-male extension cord listings from Walmart, eBay, and AliExpress and is warning consumers to stop using these products immediately. The cords have exposed prongs that can become energized when plugged into a power source, creating serious risk of electrocution or fire, and their use for generator backfeeding poses additional carbon monoxide poisoning hazards. Multiple China-based sellers including Shenzhen Lieniao Import & Export, Wz-Ei Co. Ltd., Ganjiang New District Yuslow Toys Sales Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Tebida Trading Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Tuotu Xiaoyi Technology Co. Ltd., Hefei Yaduan Trading Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Excellence Wisdom Software Co. Ltd., and Huizhou Xiyan Digital Co. Ltd. have been unresponsive to CPSC requests for a recall.

EFMS Blackstone Urbaser Waste Collection Merger

The European Commission cleared the proposed merger between EFMS, Blackstone, and Urbaser under Council Regulation 139/2004 at Phase 1. The companies operate in waste collection (NACE Rev. 2.1 E.38.1) and waste recovery (NACE Rev. 2.1 E.38.2). The Commission issued a non-opposition decision under Article 6(1)(b) on 31 March 2026, meaning the concentration was cleared without commitments or further investigation.

HMDA Loan Data Now Available on FFIEC Platform

The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Modified Loan Application Register (LAR) data for 2025 is now available on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council's (FFIEC) HMDA Platform for approximately 4,768 HMDA filers. The published loan-level information, modified to protect consumer privacy, replaces the prior process of requesting data directly from individual institutions. Users can now access institution-specific modified LAR files or download a single combined file containing all institutions' data.

Motor Vehicle Repairer Wail Imad Jajaw Licence Cancelled

NSW Fair Trading has cancelled Wail Imad Jajaw's Motor Dealer and Repairer Licence and disqualified him from holding a licence or being involved in the direction, management or conduct of a licensed business. The disciplinary action was taken after Mr Jajaw was found to have been carrying on the business of a motor vehicle repairer while his licence was suspended. NSW Fair Trading determined that Mr Jajaw is no longer a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

Atom Motorss Pty Ltd and Director Cigdem Simon Disqualified

NSW Fair Trading has cancelled Atom Motorss Pty Ltd's Motor Dealers Licence and disqualified both the corporation and its sole director, Cigdem Simon, from the motor dealer industry for 5 years. The disciplinary action follows two offences: carrying on business as a motor dealer whilst unlicensed, and making false or misleading representations to consumers by using incorrect Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) information on Form 5 Motor Dealers Notices. The action was taken under the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 and Australian Consumer Law.

SK Capital / Swixx Biopharma Merger - Phase 1 Review

The European Commission has issued a Phase 1 merger clearance decision under Article 6(1)(b) of the EU Merger Regulation (Council Regulation 139/2004) for the proposed acquisition of Swixx Biopharma by SK Capital. The decision was issued on 31 March 2026, with the case handled under the simplified procedure, indicating no competition concerns were identified. The transaction involves economic activities classified under NACE Rev. 2.1 code G.46.46 (Wholesale of pharmaceutical and medical goods).

CAPVEST / TSG Merger Cleared Under Article 6(1)(b)

The European Commission granted unconditional clearance to the CAPVEST/TSG merger on 31 March 2026 under Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation 139/2004, using the simplified Phase 1 procedure. The merger involves companies engaged in general-purpose machinery manufacturing, electrical installation, computer programming activities, and holding company operations. The Commission's provisional review deadline was 15 April 2026, with notification filed on 6 March 2026.

CPP Investments / I Squared / Inkia Energy Merger

The European Commission issued a Phase 1 decision under Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation 139/2004 clearing the proposed acquisition of Inkia Energy by CPP Investments and I Squared. The transaction involves companies engaged in electricity production from renewable and non-renewable sources, electricity trading, electricity storage, and holding company activities. The Commission notified the provisional deadline of 16 April 2026 and published the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU C/2026/1796) on 17 March 2026.

CMA Launches SMS Investigation into Microsoft Business Software Ecosystem

The CMA Board has decided to launch a strategic market status (SMS) investigation into Microsoft's business software ecosystem, commencing in May 2026. Following engagement with the CMA, Microsoft and Amazon have announced material steps to address cloud egress fees and interoperability for UK customers. The CMA will continue active engagement with both firms and will seek views from UK customers and competitors, with a Board progress review scheduled for 6 months.

NBN Co Draft Replacement Module Determination - Service Quality and Consumer Protections

The ACCC has released a draft determination for NBN Co's regulatory cycle commencing 1 July 2026, proposing enhanced service standards including reduced wait times for connections and fault resolutions, particularly for copper, fixed wireless and HFC services. The draft proposes 25/10 Mbps as the new entry-level NBN speed tier from mid-2027, with NBN Co pricing these tiers equal to 25/5 Mbps from 1 July 2026. The ACCC also proposes a lower annual building block revenue requirement than NBN Co requested, with total forecast capital expenditure of $6.9 billion for 2027-29, approximately 18 per cent lower than NBN Co's proposal. Submissions close on 28 April 2026, with the final determination expected in June 2026.

Bundeskartellamt Q1 2026 Fuel Market Transparency Report

The Bundeskartellamt published its Q1 2026 quarterly fuel market report, documenting sharp fuel price increases at German petrol stations following escalating tensions with Iran. Between 28 February and 25 March, E5/E10 prices rose approximately 27.8 cents per litre while diesel increased by 51.4 cents per litre. A notable finding is the decoupling of wholesale diesel prices from crude oil prices, with wholesale diesel prices exceeding crude-oil-based expectations by approximately 25 cents on 19 March, rising a further 10 cents in a single day. Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, clarified that competition law does not provide ad hoc price-control instruments, and that abuse-of-dominance findings require very high legal thresholds. The report also notes new legislation limiting fuel price changes to once daily at 12 noon, which the Bundeskartellamt will monitor via its Market Transparency Unit for Fuels.

Glasfaser Nordwest JV Cleared to Continue Operations

The Bundeskartellamt closed its antitrust proceeding examining the cooperation between EWE AG and Telekom Deutschland GmbH within Glasfaser Nordwest GmbH & Co. KG after the parties addressed remaining competitive concerns through binding commitments. The commitments include extended non-discriminatory access requirements and a nine-month waiting period before roll-out, effective until 31 December 2030. The proceeding does not affect a separate appeal before the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court regarding the 2019 merger control clearance decision.

Informal Guidance on Voluntary Retailer Charter for Sustainable Products

The ADLC General Rapporteur published informal guidance concluding that a proposed voluntary retailer charter on household electrical and electronic products was compatible with French competition law, subject to one exception regarding the prominence given to regulatory rating systems. The guidance identifies four watch points: retailers must retain freedom to define individual commitments; individual commitments must genuinely contribute to sustainability objectives without greenwashing; no commercially sensitive information may be exchanged between competitors; and collective commitments to limit proprietary rating systems could constitute a restriction of competition.

Trade Inspection Authority Finds Price Labeling Irregularities in Nearly Half of Polish Businesses

The Trade Inspection Authority, acting on behalf of the President of UOKiK, conducted price information inspections across 3,026 establishments (stores, service outlets, petrol stations, car parks, hotels) and assessed 461,437 products. Inspectors found that 1,462 businesses (48.3%) provided incorrect price information, with irregularities in 60,001 products (13%). Most common violations were absence of price information, missing unit prices (per litre, kilogram, metre), and "from-to" price ranges. Promotional violations included failure to disclose the lowest price from 30 days prior to reductions. The Authority imposed financial penalties on 899 traders totaling PLN 1,204,194. Businesses were reminded that prices must be clear, final, include all taxes, and unit prices must be displayed for comparison.

Morellato Fined €25.9M for Imposing Resale Price Controls and Marketplace Bans on Jewellers

AGCM imposed a €25,895,043 fine on Morellato S.p.A. for operating a vertical agreement in its selective distribution system that imposed resale price maintenance by controlling maximum discounts authorized distributors could offer on online sales channels. The Authority also found Morellato prohibited distributors from selling on third-party platforms such as Amazon and eBay, monitoring compliance and penalizing breaches with threats, contract terminations, and account blocking, despite Morellato itself selling on those same marketplaces. The conduct, spanning 20 July 2018 to 23 December 2025, was found to violate Article 101 TFEU.

Liberty Global / Telefonica / Substantial Merger (M.12366)

The European Commission has approved the proposed merger between Liberty Global, Telefonica, and Substantial under Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation 139/2004. The decision was issued on 30 March 2026 following a Phase 1 investigation, indicating the Commission found no competition concerns requiring a more detailed review. The notification was filed on 27 February 2026, and the concentration description was published on 3 March 2026.

Liberty Global / Telefonica / Infravia / Netomnia and BRSK Assets Merger

The European Commission received a notification of the concentration involving Liberty Global, Telefonica, Infravia, Netomnia and BRSK Assets on 27 February 2026. The Commission issued a decision under Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation 139/2004 on 30 March 2026, clearing the merger at Phase 1 without commitments or remedies. Parties subject to the provisional deadline of 08 April 2026 should ensure all required steps are completed by that date.