Regulator profile

CMA

Competition and Markets Authority

Enforcement Regulator UK-wide

What CMA does

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

Digital Markets Unit has powers under Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

CompetitionDigital MarketsMergers

Contact CMA

Official guidance from CMA

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

CMA unfair contract terms guidance (CMA37) (opens in a new tab)

Publication

CMA consumer enforcement (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Accepting returns and giving refunds (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Unfair commercial practices guidance (CMA) (opens in a new tab)

Publication

CMA: Algorithms and competition (opens in a new tab)

Publication

Marketing and advertising law (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Price transparency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Vertical agreements block exemption order (VABEO) guidance (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

View all 135 guidance documents (opens in a new tab)

Legislation that CMA directly enforces.

Primary legislation

Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 Sale of Goods Act 1979 Electricity Act 1989 Water Industry Act 1991 Competition Act 1998 Enterprise Act 2002 Communications Act 2003 Consumer Rights Act 2015 SBEEA 2015 Subsidy Control Act 2022 DMCCA 2024

Secondary legislation

Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 Competition Act 1998 (Small Agreements and Conduct of Minor Significance) Regulations 2000 Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 The Consumer Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2014 Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 Competition Act 1998 (Vertical Agreements Block Exemption) Order 2022 The Subsidy Control (Subsidies and Schemes of Interest or Particular Interest) Regulations 2022

… and 1 more statutory instruments.

Legislation connected to CMA’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Establishing / enabling

Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 UK Act of Parliament

Administered / monitored

Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 UK Act of Parliament

Referenced in enforcement

Consumer Protection Act 1987 UK Act of Parliament Local Government Act 1988 UK Act of Parliament The Local Government (Direct Labour Organisations) (Competition) (Exemption) (England) Regulations 1992 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government Act 1988 (Competition) (Construction and Property Services) (England) Regulations 1994 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government Act 1988 (Competition) (Defined Activities) (Construction and Property Services) Order 1994 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government (Direct Labour Organisations) (Competition) (Exemption) (England) Regulations 1994 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (Competition) (Wales) Regulations 1994 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (Competition) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government Act 1988 (Competition) (Legal and Co... UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (Competition) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1996 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (Competition) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 UK Statutory Instrument The Local Government Act 1988 (Competition) (Construction and Property Services) (Wales) Regulations 1997 UK Statutory Instrument EC Competition Law (Articles 84 and 85) Enforcement Regulations 2001 UK Statutory Instrument Competition Appeal Tribunal Rules 2003 UK Statutory Instrument Commission Decision of 3 May 2005 Retained EU Law

… and 1 more.

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