Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (Text with EEA relevance)

Article 42U.K.Product intervention by competent authorities

1.[F1The FCA] may prohibit or restrict the following in or from [F2the United Kingdom]:

(a)the marketing, distribution or sale of certain financial instruments or structured deposits or financial instruments or structured deposits with certain specified features; or

(b)a type of financial activity or practice.

2.[F3The FCA] may take the action referred to in paragraph 1 if it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that:

(a)either

(i)

a financial instrument, structured deposit or activity or practice gives rise to significant investor protection concerns or poses a threat to the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets or commodity markets or to the stability of whole or part of the financial system [F4within the United Kingdom]; or

(ii)

a derivative has a detrimental effect on the price formation mechanism in the underlying market;

(b)existing regulatory requirements under [F5the law of the United Kingdom (or any part of the United Kingdom)] applicable to the financial instrument, structured deposit or activity or practice do not sufficiently address the risks referred to in point (a) and the issue would not be better addressed by improved supervision or enforcement of existing requirements;

(c)the action is proportionate taking into account the nature of the risks identified, the level of sophistication of investors or market participants concerned and the likely effect of the action on investors and market participants who may hold, use or benefit from the financial instrument, structured deposit or activity or practice; [F6and]

F7(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F7(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f)it has properly consulted public bodies [F8in the United Kingdom] competent for the oversight, administration and regulation of physical agricultural markets under Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, where a financial instrument or activity or practice poses a serious threat to the orderly functioning and integrity of the physical agricultural market.

Where the conditions set out in the first subparagraph are fulfilled, the [F9FCA] may impose the prohibition or restriction referred to in paragraph 1 on a precautionary basis before a financial instrument or structured deposit has been marketed, distributed or sold to clients.

A prohibition or restriction may apply in circumstances, or be subject to exceptions, specified by the [F9 FCA].

[F103.Subject to paragraph 4, the FCA must not impose a prohibition or restriction under this Article unless not less than one month before the measure is due to take effect, it has published details of the decision to impose the prohibition or restriction on its website in accordance with paragraph 5.]

4.In exceptional cases where the [F11FCA] deems it necessary to take urgent action under this Article in order to prevent detriment arising from the financial instruments, structured deposits, practices or activities referred to in paragraph 1, the [F11FCA] may take action on a provisional basis F12... provided that all the criteria in this Article are met and that, in addition, it is clearly established that [F13waiting for one month] would not adequately address the specific concern or threat. The [F11FCA] shall not take action on a provisional basis for a period exceeding three months.

5.The [F14FCA] shall publish on its website notice of any decision to impose any prohibition or restriction referred to in paragraph 1. The notice shall specify details of the prohibition or restriction, a time after the publication of the notice from which the measures will take effect and the evidence upon which it is satisfied each of the conditions in paragraph 2 are met. The prohibition or restriction shall only apply in relation to actions taken after the publication of the notice.

6.The [F15FCA] shall revoke a prohibition or restriction if the conditions in paragraph 2 no longer apply.

7.[F16The Treasury may by regulations specify] criteria and factors to be taken into account by [F17the FCA] in determining when there is a significant investor protection concern or a threat to the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets or commodity markets or to the stability of the of the financial system within [F18the United Kingdom] referred to in paragraph 2(a).

Those criteria and factors shall include:

(a)the degree of complexity of a financial instrument or structured deposit and the relation to the type of client to whom it is marketed, distributed and sold;

(b)the degree of innovation of a financial instrument or structured deposit, an activity or a practice;

(c)the leverage a financial instrument or structured deposit or practice provides;

(d)in relation to the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets or commodity markets, the size or the notional value of an issuance of financial instruments or structured deposits.

Textual Amendments