TITLE V: Powers of investigation.

The agents mentioned in article L. 450-1 may, without being bound by professional secrecy, have access to any document or item of information held by State departments and establishments, the independent administrative authorities and independent public authorities mentioned in the annex to Law no. 2017-55 of 20 January 2017 on the general status of independent administrative authorities and independent public authorities, and other public bodies.

I. – Subject to the provisions of II, it is a criminal offence for anyone to oppose, in any way whatsoever, the performance of the duties entrusted to the agents referred to in II of Article L. 450-1 pursuant to this book, subject to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of €300,000. . II. – Where the objection relates to acts of the agents mentioned in II of Article L….

It shall be punishable by two years’ imprisonment and a fine of €300,000 for a natural person to oppose the performance of the duties entrusted to the agents mentioned in I of Article L. 450-1 pursuant to this book. .

The provisions of Article 121-2 of the Penal Code are not applicable to the offences mentioned in Article L. 450-9, nor to those mentioned in I of Article L. 450-8, when the opposition relates to acts of the agents mentioned in II of Article L. 450-1 carried out as part of their assignment to the general rapporteur of the Competition Authority pursuant to Article 450-6.