Agencies
Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office)
The Bundeskartellamt deals with competition restraints of any kind which have an impact on Germany. The respective regional cartel authorities are responsible for cases which affect only one Federal State. However, mergers are examined exclusively by the federal cartel authority. The legal basis for the Office's activities is provided by the Act against Restraints of Competition; in addition to this Act, the Office may apply European competition law, unless the European Commission itself becomes active.