The General Administration of Market Regulation issued the “Guidelines for Centralized Examination of Non-horizontal Operators”, which aim to further standardize the centralized review of non-horizontal operators, enhance the transparency of the review, and raise the expectations of operators that anti-monopoly enforcement agencies assess the impact of concentrated competition among operators. The “Guidelines” clarify the definition, scope of application, and centralized reporting requirements that fail to meet the reporting standards but may have the effect of excluding or limiting competition. At the same time, the “Guidelines” detail the anti-monopoly law enforcement agencies' review ideas on non-horizontal operator concentration, focusing on evaluating unilateral effects and coordination effects to determine whether concentration has or may have the effect of excluding or limiting competition. The “Guidelines” apply to all relevant markets that may be affected by the concentration of non-horizontal operators, and provide specific methods for defining relevant markets.

The General Administration of Market Regulation issued the “Guidelines for Centralized Examination of Non-horizontal Operators”, which aim to further standardize the centralized review of non-horizontal operators, enhance the transparency of the review, and raise the expectations of operators that anti-monopoly enforcement agencies assess the impact of concentrated competition among operators. The “Guidelines” clarify the definition, scope of application, and centralized reporting requirements that fail to meet the reporting standards but may have the effect of excluding or limiting competition. At the same time, the “Guidelines” detail the anti-monopoly law enforcement agencies' review ideas on non-horizontal operator concentration, focusing on evaluating unilateral effects and coordination effects to determine whether concentration has or may have the effect of excluding or limiting competition. The “Guidelines” apply to all relevant markets that may be affected by the concentration of non-horizontal operators, and provide specific methods for defining relevant markets.