On 25 March 2020, the Myanmar Competition Commission issued Directive No. 2/2020 under Section 56, Subsection (b) of the Competition Law. The directive aims to prohibit unfair advertising practices, ensure fair competition among businesses, and protect the public and consumers from potential harm.

Business operators must follow these promotional restrictions set out in the directive:

• When advertising and promoting business to the public, all information and promotional material – including printed and spoken words and all promotional material – must be true and the business must be fully responsible for all statements.
• When communicating or promoting goods and services to the public and other businesses, avoid using language, writing, and information that is misleading and incorrect.
• Businesses may only claim to the public that they have the support, recognition or affiliation from an organization when they can present evidence of their purported relationship with the relevant organization.

Any person who conducts commercial business must understand and comply with the above promotional restrictions set out in the directive. Those who fail to comply will be prosecuted under the Competition Law and criminal action will be taken.

We trust that this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to discuss this or any other legal issues in Myanmar.

The information provided here is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Legal advice should be obtained from qualified legal counsel for all specific situations.

Contact: myanmar@dfdl.com