Receiving Royal Assent on 9 November 1998, the Competition Act 1998 establishes the United Kingdom's primary competition-law framework. Its Chapter I prohibition addresses restrictive agreements between undertakings, such as price-fixing and market-sharing, that may affect trade within the United Kingdom and have the object or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition. Its Chapter II prohibition addresses abuse of a dominant market position, covering conduct such as predatory pricing and refusal to supply. The Competition and Markets Authority enforces both, with fines of up to ten percent of annual global turnover per year of violation, up to three years.
Facts
Promulgated ByParliament of the United Kingdom 3 Jurisdiction Scope Regulatory DomainAntitrust and competition 3 Classification
Legal Status Jurisdiction Scope
Jurisdiction Scope (category) Era
Era (category)20th Century (1900-1999) 2 Connections
Associated With
Both are national competition statutes governing monopolies, cartels and mergers.
both are part of the European tradition of competition and market-dominance regulation
Both prohibit anticompetitive agreements and abuse of dominance in their jurisdictions.
In Legal System
United Kingdom statute, within the English common law tradition.
Source Major Legal Systems in the World TodayRene David and John E.C. Brierley
Sources
1. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): Competition Act 1998
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)Currency statement
Competition Act 1998 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 08 October 2026.
Page heading
Competition Act 1998 You are here: UK Public General Acts 1998 c. 41
View the Source 2. Competition Act 1998 (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
The Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
3. Competition Act 1998 (legislation.gov.uk)
legislation.gov.uk, UK Government
Major Legal Systems in the World Today
Rene David and John E.C. Brierley, Stevens and Sons, 1985In Legal System: English Law
Competition Act 1998 (Wikipedia)
In Group: Competition Law Outside the United States, Introduction, sentence 2Quote, In Group: Competition Law Outside the United States, Introduction, sentence 2
The act is the current major source of competition law in the United Kingdom, along with the Enterprise Act 2002.
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