The establishment of voluntary chains of retailers of goods and services to institute common programs, including negotiations, purchases and advertising on pricing, carried out by small merchants engaged in retail sales and providers of services who each own up to five (5) business establishments, to join together and confront the competition in good faith of establishments with substantially larger volumes of sales, shall not be deemed as a violation of this chapter, provided that no voluntary chain or common program should tend to create a monopoly or has the effect of substantially restricting business, trade or competition, or constitutes an unfair method of competition, as well as an unfair or deceitful business or commercial practice or act.
Every voluntary chain or common person shall be recognized by the Commercial Development Administration, which shall certify that it complies with the requirements of this section, upon prior request to such effects, provided that its existence does not tend to create a monopoly, substantially restricting business, trade, or competition or constitutes an unfair method of competition, as well as an unfair or deceitful business or commercial practice or act.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 18; Aug. 15, 1999, No. 256, § 1.