Enterprise Act 2002

Changes over time for: Section 156

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Changes to legislation:

Enterprise Act 2002, Section 156 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 December 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 156:

Sch. 6B para. 2B(1)-(1D) substituted for Sch. 6B para. 2B(1) by S.I. 2025/1351 reg. 2(2)

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

Sch. 6B para. 2B(1)-(1D) substituted for Sch. 6B para. 2B(1) by S.I. 2025/1351 reg. 2(2)

156 Effect of undertakings [F1in lieu]U.K.

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

[F2(A1)No market investigation reference shall be made by the CMA or the appropriate Minister in relation to any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services if—

(a)the CMA has accepted an undertaking or group of undertakings under section [F3154A] within the previous 12 months;

(b)[F4any] feature or combination of features to which the undertaking or group of undertakings relates is [F5a] feature or combination of features to which the reference would relate; and

(c)the goods or services to which the undertaking or group of undertakings relates are of the same description as the goods or services to which the reference would relate.]

(1)No [F6ordinary] reference shall be made by the [F7CMA] or the appropriate Minister in relation to any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services if—

(a)the [F7CMA] has [F8, instead of making an ordinary reference,] accepted an undertaking or group of undertakings [F9in lieu of a reference under section 154A] within the previous 12 months; F10...

[F11(ab)any feature or combination of features to which the undertaking or group of undertakings relates is a feature or combination of features to which the reference would relate; and]

(b)the goods or services to which the undertaking or group of undertakings relates are of the same description as the goods or services to which [F12the reference would relate].

(2)[F13Subsections (A1) and (1) do] not prevent the making of a market investigation reference if—

(a)the [F7CMA] considers that any undertaking concerned has been breached and has given notice of that fact to the person responsible for giving the undertaking; or

(b)the person responsible for giving any undertaking concerned supplied, in connection with the matter, information to the [F7CMA] which was false or misleading in a material respect.

[F14(3)The expiry of the period mentioned in section 131B(4) does not prevent the making of a market investigation reference if the CMA has accepted an undertaking or group of undertakings under section [F15154A] and—

(a)the CMA considers that any undertaking concerned has been breached and has given notice of that fact to the person responsible for giving the undertaking; or

(b)the person responsible for giving any undertaking concerned supplied, in connection with the matter, information to the OFT which was false or misleading in a material respect.]

[F16(4)Where the CMA has, under section 154A, accepted an undertaking, or group of undertakings, in lieu of a report the CMA is not required by virtue of section 134 to make the decisions referred to in subsections (1) and (1A) of that section in relation to a feature, or features, to which the undertaking, or group of undertakings, relate.

(5)Accordingly, a report under section 136 is not required, and the duty under section 138 does not arise, if the CMA accepts an undertaking fully in lieu of a report.

(6)Instead, where the CMA accepts an undertaking fully in lieu of a report the CMA must prepare and publish a report containing—

(a)the CMA’s decision to accept the undertaking,

(b)the reasons for the decision, and

(c)such information as the CMA considers appropriate for facilitating a proper understanding of the decision and its reasons for the decision.

(7)For provision equivalent to subsection (6) in the case where the CMA accepts an undertaking partially in lieu of a report, see section 136(2)(aa).]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 156 heading substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 8 para. 10(2); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(12) (with Sch. para. 9, 20)

F2S. 156(A1) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 9 para. 8(2); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F3Word in s. 156(A1)(a) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 8 para. 10(3)(a); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(12) (with Sch. para. 9, 20)

F4Word in s. 156(A1)(b) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 8 para. 10(3)(b)(i); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(12) (with Sch. para. 9, 20)

F5Word in s. 156(A1)(b) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 8 para. 10(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(12) (with Sch. para. 9, 20)

F6Word in s. 156(1) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 9 para. 8(3)(a); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F7Word in s. 156(1)(2) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 189 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F8Words in s. 156(1)(a) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 9 para. 8(3)(b); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F9Words in s. 156(1) substituted (1.1.2025) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 8 para. 10(4)(a); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(12) (with Sch. para. 9, 20)