Competition and Markets Authority

On 15 March 2012, the UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced proposals for strengthening competition in the UK by merging the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission to create a new single Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strengthening-competition-and-creating-a-single-competition-and-markets-authority-cma--2

|title=Strengthening competition and creating a single competition and markets authority (CMA)

|date=15 March 2012 |publisher=Department for Business Innovation & Skills |access-date=1 April 2013}} The formation of the CMA was enacted in Part 3 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, which received royal assent on 25 April 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/24/part/3/enacted |title=Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, Part 3 |date=25 April 2013 |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=26 March 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/competition-and-markets-authority|title=Competition and Markets Authority|date=25 July 2022|publisher=Institute for Government|access-date=29 December 2024}}

In July 2012, Lord Currie was appointed chairman designate of the CMA, and in January 2013, Alex Chisholm was appointed Chief Executive designate.{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130108/wmstext/130108m0001.htm#13010823000041 |title=Competition and Markets Authority |date=8 January 2013 |work=Ministerial statement by Vince Cable |access-date=1 April 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cityam.com/article/1396462454/how-were-revitalising-magic-markets-drive-growth|title=How we're revitalising markets for economic growth|newspaper=CityAM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406033145/https://www.cityam.com/article/1396462454/how-were-revitalising-magic-markets-drive-growth|archive-date=6 April 2014}}

On 15 July 2013, BIS announced the first stage of an open public consultation period and published a summary setting out the background to the consultation and inviting views on the draft guidance for the CMA.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/competition-and-markets-authority-guidance-part-1 |title=Competition and Markets Authority – Open consultation guidance |date=15 July 2013 |publisher=Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |access-date=2 August 2013}} The first stage of the consultation ended on 6 September 2013. On 17 September, BIS announced the second consultation stage, which closed on 7 November 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/competition-and-markets-authority-guidance-part-2 |title=Competition and Markets Authority guidance, Part 2 |date=17 September 2013 |publisher=Department for Business Innovation and Skills, UK Government |access-date=17 September 2013}}

During 2013 and 2014, the CMA announced several waves of appointments at the director level, reporting to members of the senior executive team.Appointments at Director level:
seven: {{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/competition-and-markets-authority-announces-further-appointments |title=CMA announces further appointments |date=6 November 2013 |publisher=Competition and Markets Authority, UK Government |access-date=8 November 2013}}
eighteen {{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/competition-and-markets-authority-announces-next-wave-of-senior-appointments|title=Second wave of appointments |date=14 November 2013 |publisher=Competition and Markets Authority, UK Government |access-date=24 December 2013}}
eighteen {{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/competition-and-markets-authority-announces-third-wave-of-director-appointments|title=Third wave of appointments |date=13 December 2013 |publisher=Competition and Markets Authority, UK Government |access-date=24 December 2013}}
eleven {{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/competition-and-markets-authority-announces-further-wave-of-director-appointments |title=Further wave of appointments |date=24 January 2014 |publisher=Competition and Markets Authority, UK Government |access-date=10 February 2014}}

Following a consultation, the CMA published the Rules of Procedure for CMA merger, market, and special reference groups on 28 March 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/298801/CMA17.pdf |title= Rules of Procedure for Merger, Market and Special Reference Groups |date=28 March 2014 |publisher=CMA |access-date=31 March 2014}}

On 12 August 2019, the CMA's London office moved to The Cabot, 25 Cabot Square in the Canary Wharf business estate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-completes-move-to-canary-wharf|title=CMA completes move to Canary Wharf|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|language=en|access-date=12 August 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/cma-gets-17m-advance-to-keep-canary-wharf-office-move-on-track|title=CMA gets £17m advance to keep Canary Wharf office move on track|date=18 February 2019|newspaper=Civil Service World|access-date=29 December 2024}}

In 2021, the CMA announced that it would establish branch offices in Manchester and Darlington. The Manchester office would house the Digital Markets Unit, charged with "oversee[ing] a new regulatory regime for the most powerful digital firms", forming a 'Digital Hub' with the Digital Regulation Co-operation Forum. The Darlington office, part of the UK Government's Darlington Economic Campus, would be home to the Microeconomics Unit, in charge of the economic research and evaluation functions of the CMA, including production of the State of Competition report. The Microeconomics Unit is intended to complement the Bank of England's role in macroeconomics, and in July 2023 announced a research and skills-development partnership with the Durham Research in Economic Analysis and Mechanisms centre at Durham University.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-to-open-offices-in-manchester-and-darlington|title=CMA to open offices in Manchester and Darlington|date= 19 November 2021|website=CMA}}{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/business/news-and-events/news/2023/07/cma-partnership/|title=Microeconomics expertise takes alliance with UK government to the next level|date=28 July 2023|website=Durham University}}

On 21 January 2025, Marcus Bokkerink resigned from the post of chair of the CMA, after disagreements with government ministers on how to drive growth, prosperity and opportunity for the UK. Bokkerink advocated an approach that focused on empowering consumers to make choices, fostering competition, creating a level playing field for challengers as well as incumbents, and creating the conditions for the resulting innovation, productivity growth and investment to diffuse across the economy, safeguarded by an independent competition and consumer protection authority. He was replaced by former Amazon UK boss, Doug Gurr, on an interim basis.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2d3e6zklxgo|title=Government fires UK competition watchdog chair|date=21 January 2025|website=BBC News}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/e666900b-ba69-4ed7-af7b-eba32cc83df0?shareToken=bb6a5ecb14754f59c45513666347e2c1|title=Ousted CMA chair hits back after sudden dismissal|date=7 February 2025|newspaper=The Times|access-date=19 February 2025}}

{{see also|English contract law|EU competition law}}

In situations where competition could be unfair or consumer choice may be affected, the CMA is responsible for:{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about

|title=CMA Responsibilities

|publisher=UK Government |access-date=17 March 2014}}

• investigating phase 1 and phase 2 mergers{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/topic/competition/mergers|title = Competition: Mergers - detailed information - GOV.UK}}
• conducting market studies and market investigations{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/topic/competition/markets|title = Competition: Markets - detailed information - GOV.UK}}
• investigating possible breaches of prohibitions against anti-competitive agreements under the Competition Act 1998
• bringing criminal proceedings against individuals who commit cartel offences
• enforcing consumer protection legislation, particularly the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Directive and Regulations
• encouraging regulators to use their competition powers
• considering regulatory references and appeals

• Acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft: the authority initially ruled against the deal but, following an investigation, changed its position{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=July 14, 2023 |title=UK regulator extends deadline on final decision over Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-regulator-extends-deadline-on-final-decision-over-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714090127/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-regulator-extends-deadline-on-final-decision-over-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}
• {{Section link|Giphy|Attempted acquisition by Meta Platforms}}: the authority found that there was a risk that Facebook could pull Giphy's services from competitors, or require them to provide more user data as a condition of service.{{cite news|last1=Aripaka|first1=Pushkala|date=12 August 2021|title=Facebook may have to sell Giphy on Britain's competition concerns|website=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-giphy-m-a-facebook-cma/facebook-may-have-to-sell-giphy-on-britains-competition-concerns-idUSKBN2FD0WA?|access-date=2021-11-30}}
• MyFerryLink: the authority maintained that Eurotunnel, which leased the three MyFerryLink vessels to the SCOP, could no longer operate ferry services from Dover, due to competition concerns.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22794222|title=Eurotunnel blocked from Dover ferry service|work=BBC News|date=6 June 2013}} The ruling was appealed by Eurotunnel,{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurotunnelgroup.com/uploadedFiles/assets-uk/Media/Press-Releases/2013-Press-Releases/130606-GETvsCC-UK.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-06-20 |archive-date=2013-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616143253/http://www.eurotunnelgroup.com/uploadedFiles/assets-uk/Media/Press-Releases/2013-Press-Releases/130606-GETvsCC-UK.pdf |url-status=dead }} allowing sailings operated by the company to continue as normal.{{cite web|url=http://www.myferrylink.com/uk/news-and-travel-tips/myferrylink-competition-commission-statement?packedargs=site%3DSF_Pax_Uk|title=Business as usual for MyFerryLink Dover-Calais ferries after Competition Commission ruling|author=MyFerryLink|work=myferrylink.com}}
• Ticketmaster: an investigation was announced over concerns regarding the sale of concert tickets by Ticketmaster for the Oasis Live '25 Tour.{{Cite web |title=CMA launches investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis concert sales |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-launches-investigation-into-ticketmaster-over-oasis-concert-sales |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
• Veterinary services: an initial review undertaken in September 2023 elicited 56,000 responses from pet owners,Yorkshire Reporter, CAM Presses Ahead with Full Investigation into Vets Market, June 2024, p. 20 leading to a full investigation being commenced in June 2024.Competition and Markets Authority, [https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/veterinary-services-market-for-pets-review Veterinary services for household pets], updated 10 June 2024, accessed on 24 June 2024

• English contract law
• EU competition law

{{reflist|2}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/24/contents/enacted |title=Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 |publisher=UK Government }}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-structure|title=CMA structure|publisher=UK Government}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases |title=CMA cases |publisher=UK Government}}

{{Department for Business and Trade}}

{{Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy}}

{{Departments of the United Kingdom Government}}

{{Economy of the United Kingdom}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2013 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Competition regulators

Category:Consumer organisations in the United Kingdom

Category:Department for Business and Trade

Category:Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Category:Financial regulatory authorities of the United Kingdom

Category:Government agencies established in 2013

Category:Non-ministerial departments of the Government of the United Kingdom

Category:Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden