Part 4

Market Studies and Market Investigations
Chapter 1

Market Studies and market investigation references

Making of references

Power of CMA to make references
131
1
The CMA may, subject to subsection (4), make a reference to its chair for the constitution of a group under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 if the CMA has reasonable grounds for suspecting that any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services prevents, restricts or distorts competition in connection with the supply or acquisition of any goods or services in the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom.
2
For the purposes of this Part any reference to a feature of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services shall be construed as a reference to—
a
the structure of the market concerned or any aspect of that structure;
b
any conduct (whether or not in the market concerned) of one or more than one person who supplies or acquires goods or services in the market concerned; or
c
any conduct relating to the market concerned of customers of any person who supplies or acquires goods or services.
2A
In a case where the feature or each of the features concerned falls within subsection (2)(b) or (c), a reference under subsection (1) may be made in relation to more than one market in the United Kingdom for goods or services.
3
In subsection (2) “conduct” includes any failure to act (whether or not intentional) and any other unintentional conduct.
4
No reference shall be made under this section if—
a
the making of the reference is prevented by section 156(A1) or (1); or
b
a reference has been made under section 132 or 140A(6) in relation to the same matter but has not been finally determined.
5
References in this Part to a market investigation reference being finally determined shall be construed in accordance with section 183(3) to (6).
6
In this Part—
- “
cross-market reference
” means a reference under this section which falls within subsection (2A) or a reference under section 132 which falls within subsection (3A) of that section (and see section 140A);
- “market in the United Kingdom” includes—
  1. so far as it operates in the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom, any market which operates there and in another country or territory or in a part of another country or territory; and
  2. any market which operates only in a part of the United Kingdom;
- “market investigation reference” means a reference under this section or section 132 or 140A(6);
- “
ordinary reference
” means a reference under this section or section 132 which is not a cross-market reference (and see section 140A);
and references to a market for goods or services include references to a market for goods and services.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1988 c. 41, Sch. 7 para. 20(5)-(8) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 185, 279, Sch. 11 para. 11(3); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 8)
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 23(2A)(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 22(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1993 c. 43, s. 67(2A)(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 21(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 46(2A)(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 20(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(4) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(3)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(2A) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1984 c. 12, s. 50(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 16(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1989 c. 29, s. 43(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 18(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (25.7.2003 for certain purposes and 29.12.2003 for certain purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 370(3), 411(2)(3) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with arts. 3-6 (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2)
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (N.I.) (1.4.2007) by The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3336 (N.I. 21)), arts. 1(2)(3), 29(4) (with arts. 8(9), 121, 307); S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2 (with Sch. 2)
Pt. 4 modified (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 73(3), 306(4); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)
Pt. 4 functions made exercisable concurrently (6.4.2013) by Civil Aviation Act 2012 (c. 19), ss. 60(2), 110(1) (with s. 77(1)-(3), Sch. 10 paras. 12, 17); S.I. 2013/589, art. 2(1)-(3)
Pt. 4 modified in part (6.4.2013) by Civil Aviation Act 2012 (c. 19), ss. 60(3), 110(1) (with ss. 60(4), 77(1)-(3), Sch. 10 paras. 12, 17); S.I. 2013/589, art. 2(1)-(3)
Pt. 4 modified (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 4 para. 57; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(c) (with Sch.)
Pt. 4 certain functions made exercisable concurrently (1.4.2014) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 59(1)-(5), 148(5); S.I. 2014/823, art.
Pt. 4 modified by 1986 c. 44, s. 36A (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(4)(d) (with art. 3))
Pt. 4 modified by 1989 c. 29, s. 43(2B) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 65(4)(d) (with art. 3))
Pt. 4 modified by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(4) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 84(5)(d) (with art. 3))
Pt. 4 modified by 1993 c. 43, s. 67(4)(d) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 105(4)(d) (with art. 3))
Pt. 4 modified by 2000 c. 38, s. 86(4A) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 154(6) (with art. 3))
Pt. 4 modified by 2012 c. 7, s. 73(3)(b) (as substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 189(4)(c) (with art. 3))
Pt. 4 modified by 2012 c. 19, s. 60(3A) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 197(5) (with art. 3))
Words in Pt. 4 heading inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 8; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in Pt. 4 Ch. 1 heading inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 9; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Word in s. 131 heading substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 163(3) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
S. 131(2A) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 33(2), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 131(1) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 163(2) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 131(4)(a) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 33(3), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 131(4)(b) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 10 para. 2(2); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 131(6) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 33(4)(a), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 131(6) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 33(4)(b), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 131(6) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 10 para. 2(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Pt. 4: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (26.12.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 36(1)-(3), 334(3)(a) (with s. 38)