经营者集中审查停钟制度的完善研究

Research on the Improvement of the “Stop the Clock” System for the Review of Concentrations of Undertakings

摘要: 2022年修订的《反垄断法》在经营者集中审查中引入“停钟”制度，即在经营者集中审查过程中，执法机构可以中止审查期限。该制度为执法机构提供了更灵活的时间安排。该制度一定程度上解决了法定审查期限过刚的问题，但在实践中仍然存在启动标准模糊、程序设计不完善、监督和救济结构性缺失、配套机制不足等问题。这些问题不仅影响了制度的实际效果，也在一定程度上削弱了其权威性与可预期性。为此，本文从概念介绍入手，深入分析停钟制度适用中存在的问题，并提出完善建议，以期为其在我国的进一步发展提供参考。

Abstract: The Anti-Monopoly Law revised in 2022 introduced the “Stop the Clock” system in the review of business concentration, which allows the enforcement agency to suspend the review period during the review process. This system provides the enforcement agency with more flexible time arrangements. This system has to some extent addressed the issue of overly rigid legal review deadlines. However, in practice, there are still problems such as ambiguous initiation standards, imperfect procedural design, structural deficiencies in supervision and relief, and insufficient supporting mechanisms. These problems not only affect the actual effectiveness of the system but also, to a certain extent, undermine its authority and predictability. This article starts with the introduction of the concept and deeply analyzes the problems existing in the use of the “Stop the Clock” system, and puts forward improvement suggestions, with the aim of providing references for its further development in China.