Legal Affairs / Fair Play

In a perfect world, one would need no laws. The complex systems of our day and age cannot manage without them. That is also true for businesses. Competition does not tolerate any collusion between rivals. Agreements must be kept. Dangerous products may not enter the market uncontrolled. Advertising should not be below the belt. Even the dream of an "unlegislated internet" has faded. Rules are usually complicated.

The Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry informs the Chamber of Commerce and industry about proposals on the different legal issues of German and European Law, develops position papers with the feedback of the Chambers and enterprises, takes part in auditions, working groups etc. to present the position of the enterprises and provides competent and reliable information for the Chambers and its members, the enterprises.

Not infrequently, laws end up becoming bureaucratic. That is all the more so when their creation and application are remote from actual practice. The Chambers of Industry and Commerce are industry–s self-governing body and are practical because entrepreneurs are directly involved. They advocate undistorted and fair competition and call for deregulation whenever laws impede business or threaten to do so. They make efforts to act in a business-friendly and flexible way in the areas in which they themselves act as administrators.

The law divides, and amicable settlements unite. The Chambers of Industry and Commerce have always played an active role in settling commercial disputes. The Chambers discharge the traditional task of arbitration as well as the more recent task of mediation. But they are also willing to listen to consumers– complaints.

For responsible entrepreneurs, however, profit is not tantamount to personal profit. This is exemplified by many individuals in the history of the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce and of individual Chambers of Industry and Commerce.

In the field of entrepreneurial activities, too, however, growing economic globalisation in recent years has raised an awareness of the significance of ethical principles alongside legal norms. Today, "sustainable entrepreneurial activity", "environmental management", "social responsibility", and "respect for human rights" must be just as much part of the official code of conduct as the Commercial Code. The Chambers of Industry and Commerce, and with them the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce, have the statutory task of "working to promote the propriety and decency of honest traders". They represent a new business ethic.