Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024

Contents

5,416 provisions, too many to show on one page. Open a part or section to read it with its history and connections, or search inside the text.

1. Part 1 · Digital Markets
   1. Chapter 1 Overview
   2. Chapter 2 Strategic Market Status
   3. Chapter 3 Conduct requirements
   4. Chapter 4 Pro-competition interventions
   5. Chapter 5 Mergers
   6. Chapter 6 Investigatory powers etc and compliance reports
   7. Chapter 7 Enforcement and appeals
   8. Chapter 8 Administration etc
2. Part 2 · Competition
   1. Chapter 1 Anti-trust
   2. Chapter 2 Mergers
   3. Chapter 3 Markets
   4. Chapter 4 Cartels
   5. Chapter 5 Miscellaneous
3. Part 3 · Enforcement of consumer protection law
   1. Chapter 1 Overview
   2. Chapter 2 Relevant infringements
   3. Chapter 3 Consumer protection orders and undertakings
   4. Chapter 4 Direct enforcement powers of CMA
   5. Chapter 5 Monetary penalties: general provisions
   6. Chapter 6 Investigatory powers
   7. Chapter 7 Miscellaneous
   8. Chapter 8 Interpretation of Part
4. Part 4 · Consumer rights and disputes
   1. Chapter 1 Protection from unfair trading
   2. Chapter 2 Subscription contracts
   3. Chapter 3 Consumer Savings Schemes
   4. Chapter 4 Alternative dispute resolution for consumer contract disputes
5. Part 5 · Miscellaneous
   1. Chapter 1 Competition in connection with motor fuel
   2. Chapter 2 Provision of investigative assistance to overseas regulators
   3. Chapter 3 Miscellaneous
6. Part 6 · General
   1. 330 Interpretation
   2. 331 Data protection
   3. 332 Notices
   4. 333 Consultation
   5. 334 Financial provision
   6. 335 Minor and consequential amendments
   7. 336 Power to make further consequential provision
   8. 337 Regulations
   9. 338 Extent
   10. 339 Commencement
   11. 340 Short title
7. Schedule 1 · Procedure relating to commitments
   1. (1) Application of Schedule
   2. (2) Procedure for accepting a commitment or requested variation
   3. (3) Procedure for accepting a commitment or requested variation
   4. (4) Procedure for accepting a commitment or requested variation
   5. (5) Procedure for accepting a commitment or requested variation
   6. (6) Procedure for releasing an undertaking from a commitment
   7. (7) Procedure for releasing an undertaking from a commitment
8. Schedule 2 · Mergers: holding of interests and rights
   1. (1) Joint interests
   2. (2) Joint arrangements
   3. (3) Interests held by nominees
   4. (4) Rights treated as held by person who controls their exercise
   5. (5) Rights exercisable only in certain circumstances etc
   6. (6) Rights attached to shares held by way of security
   7. (7) Arrangements
9. Schedule 3 · Power of Competition Appeal Tribunal to grant declaratory relief
   1. (1) Chapter 4 of Part 1 of CA 1998 (appeals before...
   2. (2) In the italic heading before section 47A, after “damage” insert...
   3. (3) In section 47A (proceedings before the Tribunal: claims for damages...
   4. (4) After section 47D insert— Proceedings under section 47A or collective...
   5. (5) In the italic heading before section 47F, after “damage” insert...
   6. (6) (1) Section 47F (further provision about claims in respect of...
   7. (7) (1) In section 49 (further appeals from the Tribunal), subsection...
   8. (8) (1) Schedule 8A (further provision about claims in respect of...
   9. (9) In Schedule 4 to EA 2002 (Competition Appeal Tribunal: procedure),...
10. Schedule 4 · Relevant and special merger situations
    1. (1) Chapter 1 of Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers: duty...
    2. (2) (1) Section 23 (relevant merger situations) is amended as follows....
    3. (3) (1) Section 28 (turnover test) is amended as follows.
    4. (4) In Chapter 2 of Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers:...
    5. (5) Chapter 3 of Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers: other...
    6. (6) (1) Section 59 (intervention by Secretary of State in special...
    7. (7) (1) Schedule 5A (energy network mergers affecting comparative regulation: modifications...
    8. (8) Chapter 5 of Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers: supplementary)...
    9. (9) (1) Section 123 (power to alter share of supply test)...
    10. (10) In section 130 (index of defined expressions), in the appropriate...
11. Schedule 5 · Mergers: fast-track references under sections 22 and 33 of EA 2002
    1. (1) Chapter 1 of Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers: duty...
    2. (2) (1) Section 22 (duty to make references in relation to...
    3. (3) (1) Section 33 (duty to make references in relation to...
    4. (4) (1) Section 34ZA (time-limits for decisions about references) is amended...
    5. (5) In section 34ZB (extension of time-limits), in subsection (1), for...
    6. (6) In section 34ZC (sections 34ZA and 34ZB: supplementary), in subsection...
    7. (7) After section 34ZC (sections 34ZA and 34ZB: supplementary) insert— Fast-track...
    8. (8) (1) Section 39 (time-limits for investigations and reports) is amended...
    9. (9) (1) Section 40 (section 39: supplementary) is amended as follows....
    10. (10) (1) In Chapter 3 of Part 3 of EA 2002...
    11. (11) (1) In Chapter 4 of Part 3 of EA 2002...
    12. (12) Chapter 5 of Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers: supplementary)...
    13. (13) In section 104 (certain duties of relevant authorities to consult),...
    14. (14) (1) Section 107 (further publicity requirements) is amended as follows....
    15. (15) In section 130 (interpretation), in the appropriate place insert— Fast-track...
12. Schedule 6 · Mergers of energy network enterprises
    1. (1) Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers) is amended as follows....
    2. (2) (1) Section 22 (duty to make references in relation to...
    3. (3) In section 33(3) (circumstances in which references in relation to...
    4. (4) In section 68B (further duty to make references in relation...
    5. (5) In section 68C (further duty to make references in relation...
    6. (6) (1) In section 72 (initial enforcement orders: completed or anticipated...
    7. (7) (1) Section 73 (undertakings in lieu of references under section...
    8. (8) In section 73A (time-limits for consideration of undertakings), in subsection...
    9. (9) (1) Section 74 (effect of undertakings under section 73) is...
    10. (10) (1) Section 75 (order-making power where undertakings under section 73...
    11. (11) (1) Section 79 (sections 77 and 78: further interpretative provisions)...
    12. (12) (1) Schedule 5A (energy network mergers affecting comparative regulation: modifications...
    13. (13) (1) Schedule 16 to the Energy Act 2023 (mergers of...
13. Schedule 7 · Mergers involving newspaper enterprises and foreign powers
    1. (1) Introduction
    2. (2) Prohibition on newspaper enterprise mergers involving foreign powers
    3. (3) Prohibition on newspaper enterprise mergers involving foreign powers
    4. (4) Further amendments
14. Schedule 8 · Acceptance of undertakings at any stage of a market study or investigation
    1. (1) Part 4 of EA 2002 (market studies and market investigations)...
    2. (2) (1) Section 131B (market studies and the making of decisions...
    3. (3) (1) Section 133A (functions to be exercised by CMA groups)...
    4. (4) In section 136 (investigations and reports on market investigation references),...
    5. (5) (1) Section 139 (public interest intervention by the Secretary of...
    6. (6) (1) Section 140 (intervention notices under section 139(1)) is amended...
    7. (7) In section 150 (power of veto of Secretary of State),...
    8. (8) For section 154 (and the italic heading immediately before it)...
    9. (9) (1) Section 155 (undertakings in lieu: procedural requirements) is amended...
    10. (10) (1) Section 156 (effect of undertakings under section 154) is...
    11. (11) After section 156 insert— Interim undertakings and orders .
    12. (12) After section 158 insert— Final undertakings and orders .
    13. (13) (1) Section 162 (duty of CMA to monitor the carrying...
    14. (14) In section 169(6) (certain duties of relevant authorities to consult:...
    15. (15) (1) Section 174C (section 174B: supplementary provision) is amended as...
    16. (16) In section 183 (interpretation: Part 4), in subsection (3), in...
    17. (17) In Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act...
15. Schedule 9 · Final undertakings and orders: power to conduct trials
    1. (1) Part 4 of EA 2002 (market studies and market investigations)...
    2. (2) (1) Section 133A (functions to be exercised by CMA groups)...
    3. (3) (1) Section 138A (time-limits for discharging duty under section 138)...
    4. (4) After section 161A (acceptance of enforcement undertakings: Part 4) (inserted...
    5. (5) After section 162A (inserted by section 139(4)) insert— Power to...
    6. (6) In section 165 (procedural requirements for certain undertakings and orders:...
    7. (7) (1) Section 167 (rights to enforce undertakings and orders under...
    8. (8) (1) Section 167A (enforcement of enforcement undertakings and orders: imposition...
    9. (9) (1) In section 167B (penalties under section 167A: amount) (inserted...
    10. (10) (1) In section 169 (certain duties of relevant authorities to...
    11. (11) In section 172 (further publicity requirements: Part 4), in subsection...
16. Schedule 10 · Civil penalties etc in connection with competition investigations
    1. Part 1 Investigations under Part 1 of CA 1998 (competition)
    2. Part 2 Investigations under Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers)
    3. Part 3 Investigations under Part 4 of EA 2002 (market studies and market investigations)
17. Schedule 11 · Civil penalties etc in connection with breaches of remedies
    1. Part 1 Commitments and directions under Part 1 of CA 1998 (competition)
    2. Part 2 Undertakings and orders under Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers)
    3. Part 3 Undertakings and orders under Part 4 of EA 2002 (market studies and market investigations)
18. Schedule 12 · Civil penalties: amendments relating to sectoral regulators
    1. (1) The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
    2. (2) (1) Section 60 (functions of the CAA under Part 4...
    3. (3) In section 61 (functions of the CAA under Part 4...
    4. (4) (1) Section 62 (functions of the CAA under CA 1998)...
    5. (5) In section 63 (functions of the CAA under CA 1998:...
    6. (6) (1) Section 86 of the Transport Act 2000 (functions of...
    7. (7) The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
    8. (8) (1) Section 234I (functions of the FCA under Part 4...
    9. (9) (1) Section 234J (functions of the FCA under CA 1998)...
    10. (10) The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation
    11. (11) (1) Article 23 of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996...
    12. (12) (1) Article 46 of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992...
    13. (13) The Office of Communications (OFCOM)
    14. (14) (1) Section 370 (functions of OFCOM under Part 4 of...
    15. (15) (1) Section 371 (functions of OFCOM under CA 1998) is...
    16. (16) (1) Section 392 (penalties imposed by OFCOM) is amended as...
    17. (17) The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)
    18. (18) (1) Section 36A of the Gas Act 1986 (functions of...
    19. (19) The Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
    20. (20) The Payment Systems Regulator
    21. (21) (1) Section 59 (functions of the Payment Systems Regulator under...
    22. (22) (1) Section 61 (functions of the Payment Systems Regulator under...
    23. (23) The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat)
19. Schedule 13 · Service and extra-territoriality of notices under CA 1998 and EA 2002
    1. (1) Service of documents etc
    2. (2) In Part 1 of CA 1998, in Chapter 3 (investigation...
    3. (3) In section 61(4) of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act...
    4. (4) In section 62(4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2012 (functions...
    5. (5) In section 371(3) of the Communications Act 2002 (functions of...
    6. (6) In section 86(4)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 (functions of...
    7. (7) In section 234J(4) of the Financial Services and Markets Act...
    8. (8) In section 67(3A) of the Railways Act 1993 (functions of...
    9. (9) In section 31(4A) of the Water Industry Act 1991 (functions...
    10. (10) In section 43(3A) of the Electricity Act 1989 (functions of...
    11. (11) In section 36A(3A) of the Gas Act 1986 (functions of...
    12. (12) In Article 29(5) of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern...
    13. (13) In Article 23(3A) of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996...
    14. (14) In Article 46(3A) of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992...
    15. (15) Extra-territoriality of notices under CA 1998 and EA 2002
    16. (16) In Chapter 5 of Part 3 of EA 2002 (mergers:...
    17. (17) In Chapter 4 of Part 4 of EA 2002 (market...
20. Schedule 14 · Orders and regulations under CA 1998 and EA 2002
    1. (1) Orders and regulations under CA 1998
    2. (2) Orders and regulations under Part 3 of EA 2002
    3. (3) Orders and regulations under Part 4 of EA 2002
21. Schedule 15 · Consumer protection enactments
    1. Part 1 Enactments
    2. Part 2 Obligations and rules of law
22. Schedule 16 · Direct enforcement enactments
23. Schedule 17 · Investigatory powers
    1. (1) Introductory
    2. (2) Penalties for non-compliance with information notices
    3. (3) Extra-territorial application in relation to notices
    4. (4) Means of giving notices
    5. (5) Access to documents
    6. (6) Meaning of “firm”
24. Schedule 18 · Part 3: minor and consequential amendments
    1. (1) Estate Agents Act 1979
    2. (2) Companies Act 1985
    3. (3) Enterprise Act 2002
    4. (4) Omit Part 8 (including Schedule 13).
    5. (5) In section 238 (information), in subsection (1), in paragraph (a)...
    6. (6) In section 243 (overseas disclosures), in subsection (3)(a) for the...
    7. (7) In Schedule 14 (provisions about disclosure of information) at the...
    8. (8) In Schedule 15 (enactments conferring functions) at the appropriate place...
    9. (9) Companies Act 2006
    10. (10) Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008
    11. (11) Consumer Rights Act 2015
25. Schedule 19 · Part 3: transitional and saving provisions
    1. (1) Interpretation
    2. (2) General rules
    3. (3) Rules applicable to continuing conduct
    4. (4) Rules applicable to undertakings given to enforcers under the old law
    5. (5) Information notices under Schedule 5 to CRA 2015
    6. (6) Further provision
26. Schedule 20 · Commercial practices which are in all circumstances considered unfair
    1. (1) Claiming to be a signatory to a code of conduct...
    2. (2) Claiming that a code of conduct has an endorsement from...
    3. (3) Displaying a trust mark, quality mark or equivalent without having...
    4. (4) Claiming that a trader, a trader’s commercial practice, or a...
    5. (5) (1) Making an invitation to purchase products at a specified...
    6. (6) Making an invitation to purchase products at a specified price...
    7. (7) Falsely stating that a product will only be available for...
    8. (8) Undertaking to provide an after-sales service to consumers and then...
    9. (9) Falsely claiming or creating the false impression that an after-sales...
    10. (10) Stating or otherwise creating the impression that a product can...
    11. (11) Presenting rights given to consumers by law as a distinctive...
    12. (12) Using editorial content in the media to promote a product...
    13. (13) (1) Submitting, or commissioning another person to submit or write—...
    14. (14) Making a materially inaccurate claim concerning the nature and extent...
    15. (15) Promoting a product similar to a product made by a...
    16. (16) (1) Establishing, operating or promoting a pyramid promotional scheme.
    17. (17) Claiming that the trader is about to cease trading or...
    18. (18) Claiming that products are able to facilitate winning in games...
    19. (19) (1) Falsely claiming that a product is able to—
    20. (20) Providing (including passing on) materially inaccurate information about market conditions...
    21. (21) Claiming to offer a competition or prize promotion without awarding...
    22. (22) Creating the false impression that the consumer has already won,...
    23. (23) Describing a product as “gratis”, “free”, “without charge” or similar...
    24. (24) Including in marketing material an invoice or similar document seeking...
    25. (25) Falsely claiming or creating the false impression that the trader...
    26. (26) Creating the impression that the consumer cannot leave the premises...
    27. (27) Ignoring a request from a consumer to leave or not...
    28. (28) Making persistent and unwanted solicitations by any means, other than...
    29. (29) Requiring a consumer who wishes to claim on an insurance...
    30. (30) Including in an advertisement a direct appeal to children to...
    31. (31) Supplying products to a consumer that have not been requested...
    32. (32) Explicitly telling a consumer that if the consumer does not...
27. Schedule 21 · Chapter 1 of Part 4: consequential amendments
    1. (1) Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31)
    2. (2) Trade Descriptions Act 1968 (c. 29)
    3. (3) Hallmarking Act 1973 (c. 43)
    4. (4) Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 52)
    5. (5) Companies Act 1985 (c. 6)
    6. (6) Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48)
    7. (7) Trade Marks Act 1994 (c. 26)
    8. (8) Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40)
    9. (9) Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17)
    10. (10) Companies Act 2006 (c. 46)
    11. (11) Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 (c. 13)
    12. (12) Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15)
    13. (13) Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50)
28. Schedule 24 · Excluded arrangements
    1. (1) Regulated financial services activity
    2. (2) Arrangements for the supply of utilities
    3. (3) Contracts regulated by OFCOM
    4. (4) Contracts for prepaid passenger transport services
    5. (5) Small businesses
    6. (6) Childcare voucher schemes
    7. (7) Package holidays etc.
29. Schedule 25 · Exempt ADR providers
    1. Part 1 List of exempt persons
    2. Part 2 Exempt redress schemes
    3. Part 3 Supplementary
30. Schedule 26 · Accreditation criteria
    1. Part 1 The criteria applicable to an accredited ADR provider
    2. Part 2 Supplementary
31. Schedule 27 · Chapter 4 of Part 4: consequential amendments etc
    1. (1) Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973
    2. (2) Limitation Act 1980
    3. (3) Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984
    4. (4) Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1339 (N.I. 11))
    5. (5) Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
    6. (6) Enterprise Act 2002
    7. (7) Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008
    8. (8) Equality Act 2010
    9. (9) Consumer Rights Act 2015
    10. (10) Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/542)
32. Schedule 28 · Provision of investigative assistance to overseas regulators
    1. (1) Amendments to Part 3 of EA 2002
    2. (2) In section 110A (restriction on powers to impose penalties under...
    3. (3) In section 111 (penalties: amount) (as amended by paragraph 17...
    4. (4) (1) Section 120 (reviews of decisions under Part 3) is...
    5. (5) Amendment to Part 9 of EA 2002
    6. (6) In Schedule 14 to EA 2002 (specified functions), at the...
    7. (7) In Schedule 15 to EA 2002 (enactments conferring functions), at...
    8. (8) Amendments to CA 1998
    9. (9) (1) Section 25A (power of CMA to publish notice of...
    10. (10) (1) Section 25B (duty to preserve documents relevant to investigations)...
    11. (11) In section 40A (penalties: amount), in subsection (7), after paragraph...
33. Schedule 29 · Duty of expedition on sectoral regulators in respect of their competition functions
    1. (1) The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
    2. (2) In section 86 of the Transport Act 2000 (functions of...
    3. (3) The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
    4. (4) The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation
    5. (5) In Article 23 of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996...
    6. (6) In Article 46 of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992...
    7. (7) The Office of Communications (OFCOM)
    8. (8) The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)
    9. (9) In section 43 of the Electricity Act 1989 (functions of...
    10. (10) The Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
    11. (11) The Payment Systems Regulator
    12. (12) The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat)
34. Schedule 30 · Minor and consequential amendments
    1. Part 1 Amendments to Acts of Parliament
    2. Part 2 Amendments to other legislation