United Kingdom: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill including anti-competitive agreements regulation entered into force

On 1 January 2025, the anti-competitive agreement provisions of the Merger Control and Antitrust Rules in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 entered into force, enabled by Statutory Instrument 2024 No. 1226 (C. 78). In particular, the Bill expands the territorial jurisdiction of the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements by removing the previous requirement for agreements to be implemented within the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the Bill gives the Competition and Markets Authority the power to investigate agreements concluded outside the UK that harm competition and negatively impact consumers.