Safe harbour under threat

The EC needs convincing that the industry’s block exemption to competition rules should continue beyond 2010

Insurers will find out next year whether exemptions to certain sections of the European Commission’s competition rules, which have allowed insurers to issue standard policy conditions and create insurance pools, will be repealed. The Insurance Block Exemption Regulation is due to expire on 31 March 2010, but the Commission has made it clear that a renewal is by no means certain.