The primary task attributed to the Antitrust Authority - its reason for being, one might say - is the implementation of Law no. 287 of 1990, the Italian antitrust law.

Parliament introduced the national antitrust legislation to enact Article 41 of the Constitution, which protects and guarantees the right of free enterprise, and in order to bring Italy’s legislation into line with European Community law.

The law's main objectives are:

a) to ensure the basic preconditions for freedom of enterprise by providing economic operators with equal opportunities for market access and competition;

b) to protect consumers by promoting price containment and quality improvement for products derived from the free play of competition.

Another task of the Antitrust Authority is to apply the laws contained in Legislative Decree no. 145/2007 (enactment of directive 2005/29/EC) on misleading and unlawful comparative advertising, and in Title III, Section II of Legislative Decree no. 206 of 2005 (the Consumer Code), as modified by Legislative Decree no. 146/2007 in regards to unfair commercial practices.

Lastly, the Authority was given the responsibility of controlling for conflicts of interest in order to ensure that public government-office holders dedicate themselves exclusively to the public interest during the performance of their duties and refrain from deeds or collegial deliberations that manifest conflicts of interest[1].

It is also required to submit reports to Parliament and to the Government and to provide them with consultancy services.

[1] Law no. 215, Section 1, of 20 July 2004.