Starting farming: complete compliance journey
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UK Act of Parliament
2022
United Kingdom
Subsidy Control Act 2022
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
9 compliance obligations, 4 practical guides across 3 topics · 6 journeys
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 2
Plus 7 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.
Start a tech business
- 1 step
Grow your construction business
- 1 step
Grow your retail business
- 1 step
Grow your tech business
- 2 steps
Diversify your farm business
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
4 guidesOther 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)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
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 1 — Overview and key interpretation
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Overview and application of Act
“Subsidy”
Financial assistance which confers an economic advantage
Financial assistance which is specific
Section 2: modification for air carriers
“Public authority”
“Enterprise”
Persons under common control
The subsidy control principles and the energy and environment principles
Subsidy schemes and streamlined subsidy schemes
Subsidies and schemes of interest or particular interest
Part 2 — Subsidy control requirements
Application of the subsidy control principles
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must verify subsidies meet control principles Crown / Minister / Government department
Application of the energy and environment principles
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must verify energy and environment subsidies meet principles Crown / Minister / Government department
Subsidy database
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must maintain a public subsidy database Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty to include information in the subsidy database
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must upload subsidy details to the national database Local authority
Browse 19 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Introductory
Unlimited guarantees
Export performance
Use of domestic goods or services
Relocation of activities
Rescuing
Restructuring
Restructuring deposit takers or insurance companies
Liquidating deposit takers or insurance companies
Liquidity provision for deposit takers or insurance companies
Meaning of “ailing or insolvent”
Meaning of “deposit taker”
Meaning of “insurance company”
Subsidies for insurers that provide export credit insurance
Subsidies for air carriers for the operation of routes
Services of public economic interest
Effect of prohibitions etc in relation to subsidy schemes
Subsidies or schemes subject to mandatory referral
Information to be included in the subsidy database
Part 3 — Exemptions
Section 36: procedural requirements
- Keep records of minimal financial assistance (subsidies) received Any Person
Section 38: procedural requirements
- Keep records of SPEI financial assistance for three years Any Person
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Introductory
Minimal financial assistance
Services of public economic interest assistance
Mergers and acquisitions
Exemption for certain subsidies given to SPEI enterprises
Chapter 2: supplementary and interpretative provision
Natural disasters and other exceptional circumstances
National or global economic emergencies
National security
Bank of England monetary policy
Financial stability
Legacy and withdrawal agreement subsidies
Tax measures
Large cross-border or international cooperation projects
Nuclear energy
Part 4 — CMA: referrals and functions
CMA annual report
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- CMA must publish annual report detailing subsidy reviews Statutory regulator
Subsidy Advice Unit
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- CMA must establish the Subsidy Advice Unit Statutory regulator
Browse 16 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Mandatory referral to CMA
CMA reporting period for mandatory referral
Cooling off period following mandatory referral
Call-in direction
Voluntary referral to CMA
CMA reporting period for voluntary referral
Call-in direction following voluntary referral
CMA report following mandatory or voluntary referral
Post-award referrals
CMA reporting period for post-award referrals
CMA report following post-award referral
Referrals in relation to subsidy schemes
Other exemptions
Monitoring and reporting on subsidy control
Information-gathering powers
References to subsidy control groups
Part 5 — Enforcement
Duty to provide pre-action information
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must provide information about subsidies upon request Local authority
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 6 — Miscellaneous and general
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Subsidies and schemes in primary legislation
Guidance
Disclosure of information
Modifications to subsidies and schemes
Gross cash and gross cash equivalent amount of financial assistance
Minor amendment to the Financial Services Act 2021
Financial provision
Crown application
Power to make consequential provision
Regulations
Directions
Interpretation
Extent
Commencement
Short title
Schedules
Browse 3 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Farming Connect Wales (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- SFI closure and transition (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- DAERA grants and funding (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Slurry storage compliance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Compare ELM schemes to choose the right environmental funding (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Rural Payments Scotland (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- UK subsidy control guidance (opens in a new tab) Publication
- nibusinessinfo.co.uk grants (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Business Wales Finance Locator (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ... and 6 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
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) …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.