Introduction

The FIA upholds full compliance with UK and EU competition law. This policy applies to all FIA members, representatives, and staff. It ensures that every meeting, discussion, and decision made within the FIA supports fair and open competition.

By following this policy, members protect themselves, their organisations, and the FIA from serious legal and reputational risks.

 

Our policy statement

The FIA:

  • Requires that all its activities comply with UK and EU competition law
  • Supports the principle of free competition, based on price, quality, and innovation
  • Prohibits any conduct that could be considered anti-competitive
  • Will act swiftly against any breach of this policy, including sanctions or termination of membership

The FIA’s policy reduces risk, promotes transparency, and ensures that all association activities remain beyond reproach.

How FIA meetings are run

All FIA meetings, including council, committee, and working group sessions, are managed to maintain full compliance. Each meeting must:

  • Be formally convened in writing with an agenda circulated in advance
  • Cover only items listed on the agenda
  • Record accurate minutes for every discussion
  • Suspend any topic that may raise competition law concerns until expert advice is obtained

Chairs and Secretariat staff are trained to recognise non-compliant discussions and act immediately if a problem arises.

 

Prohibited topics

The following topics must never be discussed at any FIA meeting, event, or online forum:

  • Prices, pricing strategies, or discount structures
  • Terms or conditions of sale or supply
  • Business strategies, market shares, or investment plans
  • Allocations of markets, territories, or customers
  • Agreements to boycott or exclude competitors
  • Competitor information that is not public
  • Tender coordination or bid-rigging

If any of these issues are raised, the Chair will stop the discussion immediately.

 

Topics requiring expert advice

Some topics may be discussed only with legal guidance. These include:

  • Membership or recognition schemes that may influence customer decisions
  • Collection or publication of commercial data
  • Standard terms, codes of practice, or benchmarking activities

Before addressing these topics, the Chair or Secretariat must consult the FIA’s legal adviser.

 

Conduct and responsibilities

Every participant in an FIA meeting must:

  1. Act with integrity and professionalism
  2. Refrain from behaviour that could suggest collusion or coordination
  3. Avoid discussions that may give the impression of controlling market behaviour
  4. Follow the Chair’s instructions on compliance

 

Sanctions and enforcement

Breaches of this policy may lead to:

  • Formal warnings or reprimands
  • Suspension or termination of membership
  • Referral to the CMA or relevant authority if the breach involves unlawful conduct

The FIA trains its Secretariat and committee Chairs to apply these standards consistently and ensure every member understands their responsibilities.

At the start of each meeting, the Chair will read this statement:

All FIA meetings are on the record. No commercial topics should be discussed, including prices, discounts, sales strategies, market allocations, or competitors. Any non-compliant discussions will be stopped immediately.

Reporting a Concern

If you ever believe that a conversation or meeting could breach competition law:

  1. Stop participating immediately
  2. Report your concern to the meeting Chair or Secretariat
  3. You can also email us in confidence

All concerns will be handled sensitively and reviewed in line with FIA policy.

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Summary

The FIA’s Competition Law policy ensures that all members engage in lawful, transparent, and fair industry cooperation. By following these rules, members safeguard their organisations and strengthen the credibility of the UK fire industry.

 

Congratulations. You have now completed the FIA's Competition Law training course.