Advisory letters issued by the CMA
Updated 13 May 2025
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This register sets out summary details of advisory letters sent by the CMA.
Each entry for the year in question relates to a particular matter where the CMA has received a complaint or other intelligence about a business that may be breaking competition law. Anti-competitive behaviour is prohibited under the Chapter I and II prohibitions inf the Competition Act 1998.
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the Chapter I prohibition prohibits agreements and concerted practices between undertakings and decisions by associations of undertakings (for example, trade associations) which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition within the UK
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the Chapter II prohibition prohibits the abuse of a dominant position which may affect trade within the UK
We sometimes send letters to multiple businesses about a single matter. Individual case pages may record where an advisory letter has been sent in connection with a formal investigation.
At the end of each year we will provide an annual total of advisory letters sent that year. After 5 years, individual register entries will be removed from the register. Annual aggregate figures will remain.
皇冠体育app market sectors are based on those listed in the聽CMA鈥檚 case directory. As these are relatively broadly defined sectors, they may cover a number of different industries.
2024
Total sent in 2023: 13
| Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
|---|---|
| Chapter II prohibition 鈥� concern that a supplier with a high market share of a specific product was rolling out to its retailers distribution agreements containing an exclusivity clause prohibiting the retailer from promoting or selling similar competing products. This arrangement may foreclose the market to competitors and reduce or eliminate competition in the specific product market | Domestic equipment |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� businesses may have agreed to collude in respect of the prices the businesses would quote for their services. This type of coordination is also known as 鈥榖id rigging鈥� | Management consultancy |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� businesses may have agreed to collude in respect of the prices the businesses would quote for their services. This type of coordination is also known as 鈥榖id rigging鈥� | Building and construction |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� businesses may have agreed the minimum prices that each will charge for products | Agriculture, environment and natural resources |
| Chapter I prohibition - concern that competing retailers might have agreed to share markets by reference to the type of customer | Food services |
| Chapter I prohibition - concern that wholesalers may have agreed not to compete with one another, for example by agreeing the prices each will charge (price-fixing) or the customers each will supply (market-sharing) | Agriculture, environment and natural resources |
2023
Total sent in 2023: 14
| Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
|---|---|
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� concern that the retailer may have entered into a price-fixing agreement and/or concerted practice with a competitor, which would see both retailers price goods at the same level (by setting an increased recommended retail price) | Healthcare and medical equipment |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� concern that retailers might have agreed to share markets | Clothing, footwear and fashion |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� concern that retailers might have engaged in resale price maintenance/price coordination | Clothing, footwear and fashion |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� concern that retailers might have engaged in resale price maintenance/price coordination, agreed to share markets and exchanged competitively sensitive information | Clothing, footwear and fashion |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� concern that the undertaking might have engaged in 鈥榖id-rigging鈥�, which involves competing businesses which are invited to bid in competitive tenders secretly colluding so that, contrary to appearances, they are not fully competing for the contract | Medical services |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� sharing of commercially sensitive information, including price information, with one or more competing businesses. 皇冠体育app Competition and Markets Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority published a joint open letter to remind airport operators of their responsibilities and obligations under competition law | Transport |
| Chapter I prohibition 鈥� Retailers might have invited other retailers to join with them to set minimum price points (price coordination with competitors) | Medical services |
2022
Total sent in 2022: 218
| Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
|---|---|
| Chapter I 鈥� supplier seeking to restrict the level of discounts offered by online retailers of its products | Light fittings |
2021
Total sent in 2021: 38
| Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
|---|---|
| Chapter I 鈥� agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to price | Car parking |
| Chapter I 鈥� agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to markets/customers served | Safety clothing |
| Chapter I 鈥� agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to markets/customers served | Cleaning products |
| Chapter I 鈥� agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to price | Assistive goods and services |
| Chapter I and Chapter II 鈥� agreement or concerted practice restricting choice of supply | Funeral related products |
| Chapter I 鈥� disclosure of confidential and commercially sensitive information, including pricing information, with one or more competing businesses | Educational resources |
2020
Total sent in 2020: 14
| Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
|---|---|
| Chapter I 鈥� supplier seeking to ensure that online retailers of its products adhere to its Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs) or risk being prevented from selling its products | Bathroom supplies |
| Chapter I 鈥� supplier seeking to ensure that online retailers of its products adhere to its Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs) or risk being prevented from selling its products | Animal food |
| Chapter I 鈥� disclosure and/or receipt of confidential and commercially sensitive information, including pricing information, with/from one or more competing businesses | Arts and crafts |
| Chapter I 鈥� agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses to coordinate or fix prices | Beauty services |