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Competition Act 1998, Section 25 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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(1)In any of the following cases, the [F3CMA] may conduct an investigation.
(2)The first case is where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is an agreement which—
(a)may affect trade within the United Kingdom; and
(b)has as its object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the United Kingdom.
F4(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)The third case is where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the Chapter II prohibition has been infringed.
F5(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6)The fifth case is where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that, at some time in the past, there was an agreement which at that time—
(a)may have affected trade within the United Kingdom; and
(b)had as its object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the United Kingdom.
F6(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(8)Subsection (2) does not permit an investigation to be conducted in relation to an agreement if the [F7CMA] —
(a)considers that the agreement is exempt from the Chapter I prohibition as a result of a block exemption or [F8an assimilated] [F9exemption]; and
(b)does not have reasonable grounds for suspecting that the circumstances may be such that it could exercise its power to cancel the exemption.
F10(9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(10)Subsection (6) does not permit an investigation to be conducted in relation to any agreement if the [F7CMA] considers that, at the time in question, the agreement was exempt from the Chapter I prohibition as a result of a block exemption or [F11an assimilated] [F12exemption].
F13(11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(12)It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (6) F14... whether the agreement in question remains in existence.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 25 substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 1 para. 10
F2Word in s. 25 heading substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 5(3) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
F3Word in s. 25(1) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 5(2) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
F4S. 25(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(2) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F5S. 25(5) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(2) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F6S. 25(7) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(2) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F7Word in s. 25(8)-(11) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 5(2) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
F8Words in s. 25(8)(a) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 41(3)(c)
F9Words in s. 25(8)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(3) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F10S. 25(9) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(4) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F11Words in s. 25(10) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 41(3)(c)
F12Words in s. 25(10) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(5) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F13S. 25(11) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(6) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F14Words in s. 25(12) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 6(7) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
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