The Deregulation (Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976) (Amendment) (Time Limits) Order 1996

4.  After section 27 of the Act there shall be inserted—

“Certain provisions not to be acted upon before registration.

27ZA.— (1) This section has effect where—

(a) the time for furnishing particulars of an agreement or variation to the Director is determined by entry (a), (f) or (i) in the Table in paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 2 to this Act, and

(b) that time has not expired.

(2) Where the time is determined by entry (a) or (f), it shall be unlawful, before particulars of the agreement concerned have been duly furnished to the Director, for any person who—

(a) carries on business within the United Kingdom, and

(b) is a party to the agreement,

to give effect to, or enforce or purport to enforce, the agreement in respect of the restrictions accepted or information provisions made under the agreement.

(3) Where the time is determined by entry (i), it shall be unlawful, before particulars of the variation concerned have been duly furnished to the Director, for any person who—

(a) carries on business within the United Kingdom, and

(b) is a party to the agreement concerned,

to give effect to, or enforce or purport to enforce, the extensions or additions to the restrictions accepted or information provisions made under the agreement.

(4) Subsections (2) to (7) of section 35 below shall apply in relation to the enforcement of the obligation imposed by subsection (2) above as they apply in relation to the enforcement of the obligation imposed by subsection (1)(b) of that section.

(5) Subsections (2) to (7) of section 35 below, as applied by subsection (8) of that section, shall apply in relation to the enforcement of the obligation imposed by subsection (3) above as they apply in relation to the enforcement of the obligation imposed by subsection (1)(b) of that section, as so applied.”