(1) The Bundeskartellamt is an independent higher federal authority with its seat in Bonn. It is assigned to the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.
(2) Decisions of the Bundeskartellamt shall be made by the decision divisions established as determined by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Further to this, the President shall determine the allocation and handling of business in the Bundeskartellamt by means of rules of procedure; these rules of procedure require confirmation by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
(3) The decisions of the decision divisions shall be made by a chairperson and two associate members.
(4) The chairperson and associate members of the decision divisions must be civil servants appointed for life and must be qualified to serve as judges or senior civil servants.
(5) The members of the Bundeskartellamt may not own or manage any undertakings, nor may they be members of the management board or supervisory board of an undertaking, a cartel, or a business and trade association or professional organisation.