This Practice Note provides an overview of the contents and structure of the Financial Conduct Authority (fca) Handbook.

On 1 April 2013, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) Handbook was split between the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to form two handbooks:

1. •

   one for the PRA, which contains provisions made by the PRA that apply to PRA-authorised firms: the PRA Rulebook, and

2. •

   one for the FCA, which contains rules and guidance and other provisions made by the FCA that apply to FCA-authorised firms: the fca handbook

Most provisions in the FSA Handbook were incorporated into the PRA’s Handbook (replaced by the PRA Rulebook on 29 August 2015), the FCA’s Handbook, or both, in line with each regulator’s set of responsibilities and objectives. Other provisions were deleted.

While the FCA Handbook 'designates' or 'adopts' provisions formerly found in the FSA Handbook, substantive changes were made to reflect the FCA’s role and powers. This includes such aspects as the processes for applying for authorisation, passporting, controlled functions, threshold conditions and enforcement powers. A number