United Kingdom: Competition and Markets Authority issued guidance on review of procedural decisions

On 19 February 2026, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) updated its guidance on procedural complaints to outline how parties can seek independent reviews of significant procedural decisions. The guidance applies to businesses involved in Competition Act investigations, merger and market cases, digital markets competition regime cases, and direct consumer enforcement actions. It outlines formal routes to challenge issues, including deadlines, confidentiality redactions, disclosure decisions, and arrangements for oral hearings. Furthermore, the document defines the roles, scope, and limits of the procedural officer and the procedural complaints adjudicator, who remain independent from case teams. The updated procedures set short application deadlines, document requirements, and decision timelines, with outcomes being either binding or advisory depending on the specific case type.