UK competition regulatory framework

UK competition law regulates anti-competitive conduct, merger control and ensures markets are competitive.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the principle UK regulator tasked to ensure that markets are competitive and deliver the best deal possible for consumers.

The CMA will investigate and take action against particular types of anti-competitive behaviour—for example, cartel activity and dominant companies trying to leverage their market power. It will also investigate merger cases and look at wider market investigations.

UK competition law

The competition law powers of the CMA and other UK competition regulators are:

•to enforce the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements and the prohibition on abusing a dominant position •to bring criminal prosecutions against individuals responsible for implementing hardcore cartels (see The UK criminal cartel offence)•to seek director disqualification orders against any directors involved in competition law breaches (see Director disqualification)•to investigate mergers in the UK and block or seek remedies for those that result in a substantial lessening of competition, •launch investigations into any industries to ensure markets are competitive and seek remedies for those where there is an adverse ...

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Latest Competition News

UK Competition law—daily round-up (04/04/2025)

A round-up of UK competition law developments, including the latest UK merger control developments.

EU Competition law—daily round-up (04/04/2025)

A round-up of EU competition law developments, including (amongst other things) the latest EUMR developments.

EU Competition law—daily round-up (03/04/2025)

A round-up of EU competition law developments, including (amongst other things) (1) an AG opinion concerning a national reference from the Netherlands regarding jurisdictional issues in two cartel damages actions, and (2) an AG opinion concerning a national reference from Spain seeking clarification on the limitation period in the context of a damages claim for infringement of competition law

Competition weekly highlights—3 April 2025

This week's edition of Competition weekly highlights includes, from a UK perspective: (1) the CMA’s decision that the Schlumberger/ChampionX merger and the Safran/Collins Aerospace merger meets the test for reference to phase 2, (2) the CMA’s decision to launch a consultation on proposed commitments in order to address concerns over AJBA’s agreement to cooperate on passenger routes between the UK and US, (3) the CMA’s decision to fine 10 car manufacturers and two trade bodies £77.7m in relation to a cartel concerning end-of-life vehicle recycling, and (4) publication by the CMA of its Annual Plan for 2025 to 2026. This week’s highlights also includes, from an EU perspective: (1) an AG opinion seeking clarification regarding the jurisdiction of the Dutch courts over class actions brought against Apple for alleged abuse of dominance, (2) an AG opinion proposing that the Court of Justice dismiss Teva and Cephalon’s appeal against ‘pay-for-delay’ fines, (3) an AG opinion proposing that the Court of Justice should rule the Commission did not demonstrate that Bulgaria failed to recover aid granted to private forest owners, and (4) a General Court judgment dismissing an action against Commission’s decision to approve Polish COVID-19 aid to LOT.