BBC’S FAIR TRADING IS GIVEN SEAL OF APPROVAL

THE BBC’s commitment to fair trading was given a seal of approval by two different independent reviews.
Professor Richard Whish, a renowned expert on competition law, reviewed the BBC’s Fair Trading Commitment and guidelines and concluded they are appropriate to ensure that the BBC does not distort competition in commercial markets.
At the same time the British Standards Institute have awarded their prestigious ISO 9001:2000 standard to the BBC for their fair trading practices. The BBC becomes the first organisation to achieve the standard.
Whish wrote: "In my view, the fair trading policies of the BBC compare favourably with those of other undertakings. Indeed, I am not aware of any organisation that is subject to as much scrutiny - internally and externally - to ensure compliance with Competition Law."
BBC Director of Public Policy, Caroline Thomson, said: "This is excellent news, because it means that both our Fair Trading Commitment and the way that we carry it out have been examined by independent experts and shown to be thorough and effective - in fact, some of the best in the public or private sectors. Despite the frequent criticisms of the BBC from some of our commercial competitors, our policies and practices have been fully endorsed by Professor Whish and the BSI respectively."
In December, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Chris Smith and the BBC Governors together asked Whish to conduct a review of the BBC’s fair trading policies in accordance with the recommendation of the Gavyn Davies panel on The Future Funding of the BBC in August 1999.
Whish concluded: "I am satisfied that the Fair Trading Commitment and the Guidelines are appropriate to ensure that the BBC does not distort competition in commercial markets." He did not make any recommendations for change. (CD)