ACM procedure regarding informal opinions

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) frequently receives requests from market participants to give assessments in writing regarding the application of laws that ACM implements or enforces. Such informal opinions are provisional and informal assessments by ACM. Informal opinions do not prevent ACM from launching investigations at a later stage or from handing down rulings (in which ACM may decide differently) afterwards. In practice, some market participants have the need to have certainty in an early stage, for example, whether or not a license or exemption is necessary in a certain situation, or whether a certain agreement or practice is allowed. This document contains criteria that your request must meet in order to qualify for receiving an informal opinion.