The Reform of UK Competition Policy

The most important government review of UK competition since Mrs Thatcher came into office has recently taken place. The review, which was announced in June 1986, was concerned with two aspects of policy—mergers and restrictive trade practices (RTP). Its conclusions were published in March 1988 in a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) document, ‘Mergers policy’, and in a major Green Paper entitled ‘Review of restrictive trade practices policy’ (Cm 331, 1988). The proposals on RTP involve a fundamental change in policy. The new law will consider restrictive practices in terms of their economic effects upon competition and not, as at present, with the emphasis on their legal form. This reform will require new methods of operation and will be backed up by tougher powers and penalties than have hitherto been available in Britain.