In order to effectively exercise its legal mandate, and in pursuit of achieving its objectives, the Fair Competition Commission has divided its responsibilities into several divisions and departments.

Divisions are headed by divisional directors, whereas departments are headed by departmental heads. The following is a profile of Divisions, giving a profile of respective divisional activities.

Compliance Division
Strong, fair and open competition benefits consumers as well as businesses. It stimulates innovation and efficiency among businesses; enables consumers to buy goods and services at the best possible prices; and enhances overall national competitiveness. Therefore, any anti-competitive practices, such as abuse of a dominant market position, have to be rooted out and competition legislation enforced. The Compliance Division is therefore responsible for enforcement of legislative provisions relating to abuse of a dominant position, and business agreements and mergers, leading to substantial reduction of competition in the Tanzania market.

In addition to enforcing competition laws, the other main objectives of the Compliance Division are to stop any abuse of a dominant market position; and to stop cartels and other damaging anti-competitive agreements. Therefore, the Compliance department will uproot and deter all forms of anti-competitive behaviour, including cartels and the abuse of market power. Compliance cases may originate from complaints by companies, consumers, government, or other sources; or as requests for approval from companies contemplating mergers or business agreements. This department will investigate allegations of breaches of the Competition Act, subject to administrative prioritisation (to make the best use of resources). When an infringement is found, the Compliance department will apply appropriate restrictions and penalties. Thus, the Compliance department will implement and monitor robust application of the rules that protect consumers against unfair trading, taking court action where necessary. It will also take practical steps to encourage self-regulation.

The Investigation Department will conduct economic analyses of cases and decides whether anti-competitive behaviour warrants passing a case on to the Enforcement Department. The Enforcement Department will prepare a case for action under the legislation where a case is justified, or provides reasons why no action should be taken.

Consumer Affairs & Administration Division
Consumers are the weakest and most disorganized players in any given market. They usually succumb to suppliers� deceptive and anti-competitive practices due to their insufficient knowledge of the operational dynamics geared towards maximizing producers� and suppliers� profit margins at their expense.

With this in mind, the FCC has established a consumer Affairs and Administration Division which provides oversight on consumer affairs, including consumer education on their rights and obligations, handling consumer complaints and public relations activities. The division is also responsible for the general management and administration of the FCC including accounts, finance and human resources.

The Directorate through its Consumer Complaints and Education Department coordinates planning, designing and executing of the Commission�s education, communication and awareness activities and programmes. It also coordinates and implements the mechanisms for providing and receiving and handling complaints and other information from consumers, the media and other stakeholders.

The Directorate also forges strategic alliance with the media, who are reliable strategic partners in consumer education and awareness efforts. Similarly, the Directorate coordinates the fights against counterfeit goods by coordinating and conducting necessary investigatory activities and providing advice to the Chief Inspector on the needful interventions in accordance with the Merchandise Marks Act (1963).

Advocacy Division
The Advocacy Division will promote a strong competitive culture across a wide range of markets by informing businesses and consumers through a widespread education program about legislation and their rights. The Division�s endeavours will be towards raising awareness and understanding of the benefits of competition.

Not only it will study government policies, proposals, and legislations to assess an impact on competition and consumer, but also it will promote policies to enhance competition and consumer welfare. It will also work with different authorities of regulated sectors to promote competition and consumer welfare. It will advocate the removal of unnecessary or disproportionate restrictions on competition.

The Advocacy Division will conduct studies, research and economic investigations intended to promote competition and protect consumers. Investigations may originate from information provided to the Commission by government, companies, or consumers. The Economic Studies department will investigate cases that originate with information sent to the Commission, and cases sent to the Commission by the Minister. The Regulated Sector Studies department will conduct those investigations of the regulated sectors which are not enforcement cases. The Competition Advocacy department will maintain the flow of information from the Commission to government, business, and consumers, and will keep the Commission informed of initiatives and proposals coming out of government.

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