The Credit Cards (Merchant Acquisition) Order 1990

Prohibition

4.  This Order does not restrict the right of a payment card organization to :

(a) take action against a payment card issuer which has not fulfilled a reasonable plan for the issue of payment cards in the United Kingdom previously approved by the payment card organization as a condition of authorization of the payment card issuer so to act as long as such action does not have the effect described in sub-paragraph (a) of article 3(1) above (unless the issuer ceases or is required to cease carrying on business as an issuer in the United Kingdom pursuant to the authorization);

(b) impose on merchant acquirers reasonable technical and administrative requirements with respect to the conduct of the business of merchant acquisition; or

(c) require that an application or request for authorization to act as a merchant acquirer first be made by a person who wishes so to act as long as (and subject to paragraph (b) above) such authorization is granted within three months of the delivery of the application or request to the payment card organization or by the time that the person commences to carry on business as a credit card issuer (whichever is later).