Summary
The Enterprise Act 2002 reformed UK competition and consumer law. It created the Office of Fair Trading (now CMA), introduced the UK merger control regime, established the criminal cartel offence (now requiring dishonesty to be removed following 2013 amendment), reformed insolvency law, and strengthened consumer enforcement powers.
Key Points
- Established the merger control regime with CMA as decision-maker
- Criminal cartel offence: individuals face up to 5 years' imprisonment (s.188)
- Market investigation references to the CMA for features of markets preventing competition
- Super-complaints by designated consumer bodies
- Reformed corporate insolvency: abolished administrative receivership for most companies
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2013 — Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
Merged the OFT and Competition Commission into the CMA. Removed the dishonesty requirement from the cartel offence.