1. Information collected by or communicated to the competent authorities and the Commission in the course of applying this Regulation shall only be used for the purposes of ensuring compliance with Union laws that protect consumers' interests.

2. The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be treated as confidential and shall only be used and disclosed with due regard to the commercial interests of a natural person or legal person, including trade secrets and intellectual property.

3. Nevertheless, the competent authorities may, after consulting the competent authority which provided the information, disclose such information that is necessary:

(a) to prove infringements covered by this Regulation; or

(b) to bring about the cessation or prohibition of infringements covered by this Regulation.