ABSTRACT
Official measures against restrictive practices, the general supervision of prices, and consumer guidance form three aspects of official attempts to create favourable conditions for economic progress. A restrictive practice is deemed harmful if it from the public point of view unduly affects pricing, obstructs the operation of the economic system, and/or impedes or prevents the pursuit of economic activity by another party. The Freedom of Commerce Board can only resort to negotiation in its endeavours to remove the harmful effects of a particular restrictive practice. The theory underlying legislation on restrictive practices in business is that free competition between business enterprises leads as a rule to rationalization and improvements in efficiency which can benefit the consumer in the form of lower prices and better quality. The provision of consumer information is very widely scattered among a number of institutions.
