UK competition regulatory framework

NOTE—On 25 April 2023, the Government published its Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (DMCC Bill), which introduces significant reforms to UK competition law (across merger control, antitrust, market studies/investigations and digital markets). The DMCC Bill will come into effect following parliamentary approval. This Practice Note will be updated to reflect the relevant changes once the DMCC Bill becomes law. For the key changes introduced by the DMCC Bill, see further, The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024: key provisions from a competition and digital markets perspective

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 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.