Amendments to CCI Commitments Framework operationalised
The amended framework expands regulatory timelines and brings procedural clarity
The CCI operationalised amendments to the CCI (Commitments) Regulations, 2024, expanding time frames for filing and review of commitments and fleshing out the mechanism for curing defective applications. The amended regulations is effective from 18 August 2026.
The key changes are:
Expanded timeframes:
First, the time period within which a commitment application may be submitted has been extended from 45 days to 60 days from the receipt of the CCI’s order initiating an investigation under Section 26(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 (Act).
Second, the overall timeframe for commitment proceedings have been extended from 130 days to 180 days from the date on which a commitment application is filed, along with a “clock stop” mechanism, to exclude time taken by parties (including the commitment applicant) to respond to information requests from the overall timeline.
Clarified procedure for defects in commitment applications: Any defects in commitment applications must be communicated to the commitment applicant, which has 10 working days to address these defects and re-file its application. If the defects are not addressed within this timeframe, the commitment application is treated as invalid.
A draft version of the amendments were issued for public consultation in May (discussed in our June newsletter here). The CCI received comments from 15 stakeholders,1 which largely welcomed the proposed changes as beneficial, particularly with respect to the extension of timelines. It also flags certain recommendations that were disregarded, such as a proposal to permit commitment applications to be filed at any time prior to the completion of the DG’s investigation and dispensing with the outer 180 time limit for considering commitment applications altogether. In its view, the amended timelines appropriately balance procedural certainty, the objective of early intervention to correct market distortions, the conservation of investigative resources while retaining the flexibility to seek further information and holistically consider commitment offers.