News Flash: Timeline for the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act

On 24 May 2024, the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) received Royal Assent.

The Act introduces a range of reforms to the competition and consumer protection landscape, including empowering the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to independently determine and remedy breaches of competition law without requiring a case to be heard before a court.

While the DMCCA has passed into law itself, a wave of secondary legislation and guidance is required before the DMCCA’s key reforms come into full effect. On 9 September 2024, the Government issued a statement setting out a timeline for implementation:

• December 2024/January 2025: the Government aims to commence Part 1 (digital markets regime), Part 2 (wider reforms to the competition regime) and Part 5 (miscellaneous measures such as arrangements to provide investigative assistance to overseas regulators) of the DMCCA.
• April 2025: the Government expects to commence Part 3 and Part 4, Chapter 1 (new consumer laws and enforcement regime) of the DMCCA.
• Spring 2026: reforms to subscription contract rules are anticipated to begin. Work has begun on this area already with the Government publishing a consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime on 18 November 2024. The consultation closes on 10 February 2025.

Though the timeline is subject to change, the Government has emphasised that it plans to bring the DMCCA into play as quickly as possible, albeit at a pace that allows regulators and businesses the time necessary to prepare accordingly.

For a more detailed explanation of the DMCCA and its requirements, see our Summer 2024 Snapshots, and for our take on the CMA’s new draft guidance in response to the legislation, see our Autumn 2024 Snapshots.

Winter 2024