Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

[F1 Modification or waiver of rules U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 9A substituted for ss. 138-164 (24.1.2013 for specified purposes, 1.4.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), ss. 24(1), 122(3) (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/113, art. 2(1)(c), Sch. Pt. 3; S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.

138A Modification or waiver of rules U.K.

(1) Either regulator may, on the application or with the consent of a person who is subject to rules made by that regulator, direct that all or any of those rules—

(a) are not to apply to that person, or

(b) are to apply to that person with such modifications as may be specified in the direction.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to—

[F2 (za) rules made by either regulator under section 64A (rules of conduct);]

(a) rules made by either regulator under section 137O (threshold condition code);

(b) rules made by the FCA under section 247 (trust scheme rules) [F3 , section 248 (scheme particulars rules), section 261I (contractual scheme rules) or section 261J (contractual scheme particulars rules)];

[F4 (c) rules made by the FCA under section 309Z1 (rules of conduct).]

(3) An application must be made in such manner as the regulator may direct.

(4) A regulator may not give a direction unless it is satisfied that—

(a) compliance by the person with the rules, or with the rules as unmodified, would be unduly burdensome or would not achieve the purpose for which the rules were made, and

(b) the direction would not adversely affect the advancement of any of the regulator's objectives.

(5) In subsection (4)(b) “objectives”, in relation to the FCA, means operational objectives.

(6) A direction may be given subject to conditions.

(7) The regulator may—

(a) revoke a direction, or

(b) vary it on the application, or with the consent, of the person to whom it relates.

(8) “Direction” means a direction under this section.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 138A(2)(za) inserted (25.7.2014) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 148(5), Sch. 3 para. 8; S.I. 2014/1819, art. 2(4)(b)

F3 Words in s. 138A(2)(b) substituted (6.6.2013) by The Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (Contractual Scheme) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1388), regs. 1, 3(4) (with reg. 24)

F4 S. 138A(2)(c) inserted (29.6.2023 for specified purposes) by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(1)(e), Sch. 10 para. 7

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 9A Ch. 2 applied (31.12.2020) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/632), regs. 1(3), 209(6) (with reg. 209(7)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C2 Pt. 9A Ch. 2 applied (31.12.2020) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/632), regs. 1(3), 208(7) (with reg. 208(8)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C3 Pt. 9A applied (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Transparency of Securities Financing Transactions and of Reuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/542), regs. 1, 35 (as amended by S.I. 2020/1385, regs. 1(4), 56(7)) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C4 Pt. 9A applied (31.12.2020) by The Solvency 2 and Insurance (Amendment, etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/407), regs. 1(2), 4, Sch. 3 (as amended by S.I. 2020/1301, regs. 1, 3, Sch. para. 27(a) and S.I. 2020/1385, regs. 1(2), 54(2))

C5 Pt. 9A applied (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Over the Counter Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories (Amendment, etc., and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/335), regs. 1(1), 74 (as amended by S.I. 2020/1385, regs. 1(4), 52(7)) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C6 S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2674, art. 29(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 149(b)(aa)(ii)

C7 S. 138A modified by S.I. 2002/1775, reg. 3(2)(a) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 77(4)(b)

C8 S. 138A applied by S.I. 2009/3226, art. 20(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 182(a)(aa)(ii)

C9 S. 138A applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2008/432, art. 15(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 136(d)(aa)(ii)

C10 S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2644, art. 27(2) (as substituted (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 147(b)(aa)(ii))

C11 S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2666, art. 18(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 148(b)(aa)(ii)

C12 S. 138A applied by S.I. 2008/2546, art. 37(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 146(c)(aa)(ii)

C13 S. 138A applied (with modifications) by 2013 c. 13, Sch. 4 para. 9A(5)(6) (as inserted (26.10.2018) by The Financial Regulators Powers (Technical Standards etc.) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1115), regs. 1(2), 10(5)(c))

C14 S. 138A applied (31.12.2020) by The Credit Rating Agencies (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/266), regs. 1(3), 4(2)(a) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C15 S. 138A modified (13.3.2023 at 8.00 a.m.) by The Amendments of the Law (Resolution of Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/319), arts. 1(2), 3(2) (as amended (23.6.2023) by S.I. 2023/694, arts. 1(2), 3(4))

C16 S. 138A applied (with modifications) (8.6.2023 for specified purposes) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/612), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 10 (with art. 11)

C17 S. 138A applied in part (with modifications) (29.8.2023) by Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012, Art. 84c (as inserted by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(3), Sch. 2 para. 30 (with s. 2(3)); S.I. 2023/779, reg. 4(zz)(ii))

C18 S. 138A(1) modified by S.I. 2009/814, art. 9(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 167(b)(ii)

C19 S. 138A(1)(6)(7) excluded by S.I. 2006/3221, reg. 8(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 118(h)(iii) (with Sch. 2 para. 119)

C20 Ss. 138A(3)-(7) modified by S.I. 2001/1228, reg. 7(3)(4) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 41(4)

C21 Ss. 138A(3)-(7) applied (with modifications) by S.R. 2004/335, reg. 7(3)(4) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 87(4)

C22 S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2009/3226, art. 20(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 182(a)(aa)(iii)

C23 S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/432, art. 15(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 136(d)(aa)(iii)

C24 S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2666, art. 18(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 148(b)(aa)(iii)

C25 S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2546, art. 37(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 146(c)(aa)(iii)

C26 S. 138A(4) excluded by S.I. 2006/3221, reg. 8(2) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 118(h)(iii) (with Sch. 2 para. 119)

C27 S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2644, art. 27(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 147(b)(aa)(ii)

C28 S. 138A(4) modified by S.I. 2009/814, art. 9(3)-(5) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 167(b)(iii)(iv)

C29 S. 138A(4) restricted by S.I. 2008/2674, art. 29(3) (as amended) (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 149(b)(aa)(iii)

138B Publication of directions under section 138A U.K.

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a direction must be published by the regulator concerned in the way appearing to the regulator to be best calculated for bringing it to the attention of—

(a) persons likely to be affected by it, and

(b) persons who are, in the opinion of the regulator, likely to make an application for a similar direction.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the regulator is satisfied that it is inappropriate or unnecessary to publish the direction.

(3) In deciding whether it is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (2), the regulator must—

(a) consider whether the publication of the direction would be detrimental to the stability of the UK financial system,

(b) take into account whether the direction relates to a rule contravention of which is actionable in accordance with section 138D,

(c) consider whether publication of the direction would prejudice, to an unreasonable degree, the commercial interests of the person concerned or any other member of the person's immediate group, and

(d) consider whether its publication would be contrary to an international obligation of the United Kingdom.

(4) The FCA must consult the PRA before publishing or deciding not to publish a direction which relates to—

(a) a PRA-authorised person, or

(b) an authorised person who has as a member of its immediate group a PRA-authorised person.

(5) For the purposes of paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (3), the regulator must consider whether it would be possible to publish the direction without either of the consequences mentioned in those paragraphs by publishing it without disclosing the identity of the person concerned.

(6) “Direction” means a direction under section 138A.]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C30 S. 138B modified (20.2.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Transitional Provisions) (Rules and Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/161), arts. 1(1), 9(3)(4)

C31 S. 138B applied (with modifications) by S.R. 2004/335, reg. 7(3)(4) (as amended (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 87(4))

C32 S. 138B applied (with modifications) by 2013 c. 13, Sch. 4 para. 9A(5)(6) (as inserted (26.10.2018) by The Financial Regulators Powers (Technical Standards etc.) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1115), regs. 1(2), 10(5)(c))

C33 S. 138B applied (31.12.2020) by The Credit Rating Agencies (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/266), regs. 1(3), 4(2)(b) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C34 S. 138B applied (with modifications) (8.6.2023 for specified purposes) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/612), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 11 (with art. 11)

C35 S. 138B applied in part (with modifications) (29.8.2023) by Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012, Art. 84c (as inserted by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(3), Sch. 2 para. 30 (with s. 2(3)); S.I. 2023/779, reg. 4(zz)(ii))

[F5 138BA Disapplication or modification of rules in individual cases U.K.

(1) This section applies to rules made by a regulator if, or to the extent that, regulations made by the Treasury provide for it to apply.

(2) The regulator may, on the application or with the consent of a person who is subject to the rules, give the person a permission that enables the person—

(a) not to apply the rules, or

(b) to apply the rules with the modifications specified in the permission.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to—

(a) rules made by either regulator under section 64A (rules of conduct);

(b) rules made by either regulator under section 137O (threshold condition code);

(c) rules made by the FCA under section 247 (trust scheme rules), section 248 (scheme particular rules), section 261I (contractual scheme rules) or section 261J (contractual scheme particulars rules);

(d) rules made by the FCA under section 309Z(1) (rules of conduct).

(4) The regulator may—

(a) give permission under this section subject to conditions, and

(b) revoke or vary permission given under this section.

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision about procedural matters in relation to the giving of permission under this section.

(6) Provision under subsection (5) may (among other things) include provision about—

(a) the making of applications;

(b) the determination of applications (including matters to be taken into account in doing so);

(c) the giving and withdrawal of consent;

(d) requirements as to notification or publication of decisions of a regulator under this section;

(e) appeals in respect of decisions of a regulator under this section.

(7) Before making regulations under this section in relation to rules made by a regulator the Treasury must consult the regulator.]

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 138BA inserted (29.8.2023) by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), ss. 34(2), 86(3); S.I. 2023/779, reg. 4(x)