UK Act of Parliament 1998 United Kingdom

Competition Act 1998

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At a glance

Enforced by

CMA, Ofgem, Ofwat, WICS, UREGNI, PSR

What's here

21 compliance obligations, 5 practical guides across 3 topics · 4 journeys · 4 statutory instruments

Penalty landscape

5 of 21 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 5 carry different penalties and 11 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 12
  • Director or Officer 1

Plus 8 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Direct — cites this Act

2 guides

Supporting — topic alignment

2 guides

Mentioned in related content

1 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — Competition

s.025

Duty to preserve documents relevant to investigations

Unlimited fine
  • Do not destroy or tamper with documents relevant to a CMA investigation Any Person
s.026

Investigations: power to ask questions

2 years imprisonment
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must notify your business when questioning connected individuals Statutory regulator
s.031

Effect of commitments under section 31A

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must stop investigations if formal commitments are accepted Statutory regulator
s.031

Review of commitments

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must report on and publish reviews of business commitments Statutory regulator
s.031

Guidance

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must publish and consult on guidance for competition commitments Statutory regulator
s.035

Enforcement of powers under sections 31A, 32, 33 and 35: imposition of penalties

Unlimited fine
  • Breach of competition commitments or directions Any Person
s.035

Statement of policy in relation to functions under sections 31E, 34 and 35A

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must publish its policy on competition law penalties and enforcement Statutory regulator
s.042

Obstruction.

2 years imprisonment
  • Obstruct a competition regulator officer Any Person
s.049

Collective settlements: where a collective proceedings order has been made

  • Apply for Tribunal approval of a collective settlement Any Person
s.049

Enforcement of approved schemes

  • Comply with the terms of an approved consumer redress scheme Any Person
s.052

Advice and information.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must provide guidance on competition law and enforcement Statutory regulator
Browse 81 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.010

Power to vary etc assimilated block exemption regulations

s.025

Power of CMA to publish notice of investigation etc

s.028

Power to enter domestic premises under a warrant

s.030

Use of statements in prosecution

s.031

Commitments

s.031

Enforcement of commitments

s.031

Power for Secretary of State to impose time-limits on investigations etc.

s.035

Penalties under section 35A: amount

s.040

Penalties: amount

s.040

Statement of policy on penalties

s.040

Interpretation

s.040

Transferred EU anti-trust commitments

s.040

Transferred EU anti-trust directions

s.040

Information relating to transferred EU anti-trust commitments and transferred EU anti-trust directions

s.040

Enforcement of requirements: imposition of penalties

s.044

Giving of notices under Chapter 3

s.044

Extra-territorial application of notices under sections 26 and 40ZD

s.047

Proceedings before the Tribunal: claims for damages etc.

s.047

Collective proceedings before the Tribunal

s.047

Collective proceedings: damages and costs

s.047

Proceedings under section 47A or collective proceedings: injunctions etc.

s.047

Proceedings under section 47A or collective proceedings: declaratory relief

s.047

Limitation or prescriptive periods for proceedings under section 47A and collective proceedings

s.047

Further provision about claims in respect of loss or damage , or for declaratory relief, before a court or the Tribunal

s.049

Collective settlements: where a collective proceedings order has not been made

s.049

Approval of redress schemes by the CMA

s.049

Redress schemes: recovery of costs

s.058

Infringement decisions

s.060

Certain principles etc to be considered or applied from IP completion day

Part 2A — Article 22(1) investigations

s.065

Offences

5 years imprisonment
  • Obstruct competition authority investigation Any Person
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.065

Interpretation of Part 2A

s.065

Power to conduct an Article 22(1) investigation

s.065

Powers when conducting Article 22(1) investigations

s.065

Power to enter business premises without a warrant

s.065

Power to enter business premises under a warrant

s.065

Power to enter domestic premises under a warrant

s.065

Entry of premises under a warrant: supplementary

s.065

Privileged communications

s.065

Use of statements in prosecution

s.065

Destroying or falsifying documents

s.065

False or misleading information

Part II — Inspections under Articles 20, 21 and 22(2)

s.065

Offences.

2 years imprisonment
  • Commit anti‑competitive offences (e.g., cartel, abuse of dominance) Any Person
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.062

Power to enter non-business premises under a warrant: Article 21 inspections

s.062

Powers when conducting an Article 22(2) inspection

s.065

Privileged communications: Article 22(2) inspections

s.065

Use of statements in prosecution: Article 22(2) inspections

Part III — Monopolies

s.067

Offences.

Unlimited fine
  • Commit a competition law offence Any Person
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part IV — Supplemental and Transitional

Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.075

Rules in relation to Part 2 and Part 2A

Schedules

Browse 17 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch006a

COMMITMENTS

s.sch007a

the competition commission: procedural rules for mergers and market references etc.

s.sch008a

Further Provision about Claims in Respect of Loss or Damage , or for Declaratory Relief, Before a Court or the Tribunal

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

CMA

Primary

Competition and Markets Authority

Promotes competitive markets and tackles unfair behaviour. Investigates mergers, enforces competition law, and has specific digital markets powers. Digital Markets Unit (DMU) …

Ofgem

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets

Regulates gas and electricity markets in Great Britain. Issues licences for generation, transmission, distribution, and supply. Protects consumers and promotes competition. Also …

Ofwat

Water Services Regulation Authority

Economic regulator for the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales. Sets price limits, monitors service quality, and enforces environmental duties. …

WICS

Water Industry Commission for Scotland

Economic regulator for the Scottish water industry. Sets charges for Scottish Water and promotes efficiency and value for money.

UREGNI

Utility Regulator (Northern Ireland)

Regulates electricity, gas, and water industries in Northern Ireland. Protects consumers, promotes competition, and ensures adequate utility supply.

PSR

Payment Systems Regulator

Economic regulator for payment systems in the UK. Promotes competition, innovation, and service-user interests in payment systems. Regulates participants in designated payment …

Connected legislation

4 statutory instruments

These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.