Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024

Part 1 U.K. Commitments and directions under Part 1 of CA 1998 (competition)

1 U.K. In Part 1 of CA 1998 (competition), Chapter 3 (investigation and enforcement) is amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 11 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 339(1)

I2 Sch. 11 para. 1 in force at 1.1.2025 by S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(15)

2 U.K. In section 31A (commitments), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) But the CMA may not accept commitments from a person unless it has provided the person with information about the possible consequences of failing to adhere to the commitments.”

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 11 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 339(1)

I4 Sch. 11 para. 2 in force at 1.1.2025 by S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(15)

3 U.K. In section 31E (enforcement of commitments), after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) In deciding whether and, if so, how to proceed under this section, the CMA must have regard to the statement of policy which was most recently published by it under section 35C at the time of the failure to adhere to the commitments.”

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 11 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 339(1)

I6 Sch. 11 para. 3 in force at 1.1.2025 by S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(15) (with Sch. paras. 16(1), 20)

4 U.K. In the italic heading before section 32, at the end insert “: directions and interim measures”.

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 11 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 339(1)

I8 Sch. 11 para. 4 in force at 1.1.2025 by S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(15) (with Sch. paras. 16(1), 20)

5 U.K. In section 34 (enforcement of directions), after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) In deciding whether and, if so, how to proceed under this section, the CMA must have regard to the statement of policy which was most recently published by it under section 35C at the time of the failure to comply with the direction.”

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 11 para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 339(1)

I10 Sch. 11 para. 5 in force at 1.1.2025 by S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(15) (with Sch. paras. 16(1), 20)

6 U.K. After section 35 insert—

“Civil sanctions: breaches of commitments, directions and interim measures U.K.

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

(1) The CMA may, in accordance with section 35B, impose a penalty on a person—

(a) from whom the CMA has accepted commitments under section 31A (and who has not been released from those commitments), or

(b) to whom the CMA has given a direction under section 32, 33 or 35,

where the CMA considers that the person has, without reasonable excuse, failed to adhere to the commitments or comply with the direction.

(2) In deciding whether and, if so, how to proceed under subsection (1) the CMA must have regard to the statement of policy which was most recently published under section 35C at the time of the failure to adhere or comply.

35B Penalties under section 35A: amount

(1) A penalty under section 35A(1) is to be such amount as the CMA considers appropriate.

(2) The amount must be—

(a) a fixed amount,

(b) an amount calculated by reference to a daily rate, or

(c) a combination of a fixed amount and an amount calculated by reference to a daily rate.

(3) A penalty imposed under section 35A(1) on a person who is not an undertaking must not—

(a) in the case of a fixed amount, exceed £30,000;

(b) in the case of an amount calculated by reference to a daily rate, exceed £15,000 per day;

(c) in the case of a fixed amount and an amount calculated by reference to a daily rate, exceed such fixed amount and such amount per day.

(4) A penalty imposed under section 35A(1) on a person who is an undertaking must not—

(a) in the case of a fixed amount, exceed 5% of the total value of the turnover of the undertaking;

(b) in the case of an amount calculated by reference to a daily rate, for each day exceed 5% of the total value of the daily turnover of the undertaking;

(c) in the case of a fixed amount and an amount calculated by reference to a daily rate, exceed such fixed amount and such amount per day.

(5) In imposing a penalty by reference to a daily rate—

(a) no account is to be taken of any days before the service on the person concerned of the provisional penalty notice under section 112(A1) of the Enterprise Act 2002 (as applied by subsection (6)), and

(b) unless the CMA determines an earlier date (whether before or after the penalty is imposed), the amount payable ceases to accumulate at the beginning of the day on which the person adheres to the commitments or complies with the direction (as the case may be) referred to in section 35A(1).

(6) Sections 112 to 115 of the Enterprise Act 2002 apply in relation to a penalty imposed under section 35A(1) as they apply in relation to a penalty imposed under section 110(1) or (1A) of that Act, with the following modifications—

(a) any reference in those provisions to the appropriate authority is to be read as a reference to the CMA only;

(b) section 114(5A) is to be read as if the words “In the case of a penalty imposed on a person by the CMA or OFCOM,” were omitted;

(c) section 114(12) is to be read as if, for paragraph (b), there were substituted—

“(b) “relevant guidance” means the statement of policy which was most recently published under section 35C at the time when the act or omission concerned occurred.”

(7) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsection (3)(a) and (b) by substituting for either or both of the sums for the time being specified in those paragraphs such other sum or sums as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(8) Before making regulations under subsection (7) the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the CMA, and

(b) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(9) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for determining the turnover and daily turnover of an undertaking for the purposes of subsection (4).

(10) Regulations under subsection (9) may, in particular, make provision as to—

(a) the amounts which are, or which are not, to be treated as comprising an undertaking’s turnover or daily turnover;

(b) the date, or dates, by reference to which an undertaking’s turnover, or daily turnover, is to be determined.

(11) Regulations under subsection (9) may, in particular, make provision enabling the CMA to determine matters of a description specified in the regulations (including any of the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (10)).

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

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

(1) The CMA must prepare and publish a statement of policy in relation to the exercise of functions under sections 31E, 34 and 35A.

(2) The statement must, in particular, include a statement about the considerations relevant to the determination of the nature and amount of any penalty imposed under section 35A(1).

(3) The CMA may revise its statement of policy and, where it does so, it must publish the revised statement.

(4) The CMA must consult the Secretary of State and such other persons as it considers appropriate when preparing or revising its statement of policy.

(5) If the proposed statement of policy or revision relates to a matter in respect of which a regulator exercises concurrent jurisdiction, those consulted must include that regulator.

(6) A statement or revised statement of policy may not be published under this section without the approval of the Secretary of State.

Civil sanctions: infringements of the Chapter I or II prohibitions”

Commencement Information

I11 Sch. 11 para. 6 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 339(2)(c)

I12 Sch. 11 para. 6 in force at 1.1.2025 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(15) (with Sch. paras. 16(1), 20)