The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking views on whether to carry out reviews of 13 sets of market remedies that had been 
put in place by the CMA’s predecessors prior to 2005, and which have not been reviewed recently.
In addition, the CMA has decided to begin the first 2 reviews of market remedies within this programme of work, relating to the Credit Cards (Merchant Acquisition) Order 1990 and undertakings given by Metal Box plc.
The CMA also recently announced a review of 76 structural merger undertakings given by companies prior to 1 January 2005. It is also consulting on updated guidance on the use of ‘sunset clauses’ in market investigations.
This programme of work, set out in the CMA’s annual plan 2015 to 2016, aims to reduce burdens on business by assessing whether any existing merger and market remedies are no longer necessary.
The CMA has appointed a group of 3 panel members, chaired by Simon Polito, to act as decision-maker in these 2 cases. The CMA is seeking views from interested parties on whether there is a case for removing or varying these remedies.
Adam Land, the CMA’s Senior Director of Remedies, Business and Financial Advisers, said:
“The CMA takes its duties in relation to remedies very seriously. As well as making sure that any new remedies we put in place are effective and proportionate, it is right that we keep our old remedies under review, getting rid of any that are no longer needed and fine tuning those that need adjustment.
“This will help us target our monitoring and enforcement efforts on those remedies which still have a role to play in making markets work well for consumers and business.”
