Vermont § 7593 - Antitrust; conduct authorized

§ 7593. Antitrust; conduct authorized

• (a) Activity authorized. A producer, group of producers, or a battery stewardship organization implementing
  or participating in an approved battery stewardship plan under this chapter for the
  collection, transport, processing, and end-of-life management of primary batteries
  and rechargeable batteries is individually or jointly immune from liability for the
  conduct under State laws relating to antitrust, restraint of trade, unfair trade practices,
  and other regulation of trade or commerce under 9 V.S.A. chapter 63, subchapter 1,
  to the extent that the conduct is reasonably necessary to plan, implement, and comply
  with the producer’s, group of producers’, or battery stewardship organization’s chosen
  system for managing discarded primary batteries and rechargeable batteries. This subsection
  shall also apply to conduct of a retailer or wholesaler participating in a producer
  or battery stewardship organization’s approved battery stewardship plan when the conduct
  is necessary to plan and implement the producer’s or battery stewardship organization’s
  organized collection or recycling system for discarded batteries. (b) Limitations on anti-trust activity. Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to an agreement among producers, groups
  of producers, retailers, wholesalers, or battery stewardship organizations affecting
  the price of primary batteries or rechargeable batteries or any agreement restricting
  the geographic area in which, or customers to whom, primary batteries or rechargeable
  batteries shall be sold. (Added 2013, No. 139 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 22, 2014; amended 2023, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2024.)