Category: Latest

CMA Investigation: Consumer Protection in the Green Heating and Insulation Sector

First published by Author on September 20, 2023 in the following categories: Consumer Law Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with cma | competition law | consumer law | investigations | market study

In an era marked by increasing environmental consciousness, the green heating and insulation sector has gained substantial traction for commitment to energy-efficient and sustainable solutions.

However, as this sector grows, so does the need for robust consumer protection measures. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has taken a significant step in this direction by addressing concerns within the industry in particular.

This article will look at the implications of the CMA’s actions and provides insights into ensuring consumer protection in the evolving landscape of green heating and insulation.

Housebuilding market study – CMA latest

First published by Author on August 02, 2023 in the following categories: Consumer Law Industry Latest Market Studies and tagged with cma | competition law | consumer law | market study | property

Earlier this year, the UK’s competition regulator, the CMA, launched its housebuilding market study to look at whether there are any concerns in relation to competition and consumer law.

In this article, we take a brief look at the CMA study, although it is in its infancy and there is still much more work that needs to be done.

Latest in the CMA road fuel market study

The CMA recently published an update in respect of its road fuel market study where it had been looking into the prices and competition in this particular sector.

The study was launched last year and came at an important time when the cost-of-living crisis was really hitting us all and continues to cause significant problems for families across the UK. It is essential to make sure that no companies are breaching competition law and that consumers are not being taken advantage of, particularly when we are all feeling the squeeze.

Fragrances and fragrance ingredients – suspected anti-competitive conduct

First published by Author on May 03, 2023 in the following categories: Consumer Law Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with cma | competition law | consumer law | investigations

The CMA has confirmed that it has launched an investigation into suspected anti-competitive conduct relating to the fragrances and fragrance ingredients sector.

The CMA launched its investigation in March 2022, so we are only at the very beginning of the UK competition regulator and watchdog looking into what may or may not have happened. The CMA has confirmed that it has reason to believe that such behaviour may be taking place, and they are also liaising with international partners in respect of the investigation.

If any breaches of the Competition Act are established, this would constitute a serious matter that will need to be dealt with, and the CMA may wish to issue fines and prosecutions.

Unit pricing in the groceries sector: CMA project

The CMA has launched a project to look at the unit pricing in the grocery sector which, I think we can all agree, is a particularly important matter given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The CMA has published its announcement in respect of the project recently, so we are very much in the early stages of this particular one. The matter also follows a previous Super Complaint in respect of the complexities and issues that could have been impeding the ability of consumers to make informed choices in respect of price comparison.

Read on for a little bit of information about this latest CMA project. I think we can all agree it is one to watch given that we are all feeling the pinch at the moment.

Amazon marketplace investigation – CMA

First published by Author on March 01, 2023 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest Market Dominance Abuse and tagged with cma | competition law | investigations | market abuse

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) is conducting an Amazon marketplace investigation to make sure that no competition laws are being breached.

We take a brief look at the information the CMA has provided so far as a pivotally important investigation that the competition regulator is conducting.

Old and written-off vehicles – suspected anti-competitive conduct

First published by Author on February 01, 2023 in the following categories: Consumer Law Industry Latest and tagged with cma | competition law | consumer law | investigations | market study

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) is looking into suspected anti-competitive conduct in relation to old and written-off vehicles in the UK.

The investigation began approximately a year ago, and we will outline an update that has already been published by the CMA at the end of last year in respect of a penalty notice that has been issued.

The car industry is massive, and there have been a number of scandals that it has been involved in in recent years, and it can be somewhat of a murky area in terms of consumer confidence. The CMA’s work in identifying if there have been any breaches of competition law is incredibly important. If any breaches are established, swift and effective action could be taken.

Social media endorsements – CMA investigations

For several years, the CMA has been investigating social media endorsements to make sure that vital competition and consumer laws in the UK and not being broken.

Given the prevalence of social media, particularly in respect of it being used for marketing and advertising these days, it is vital that people know when they are seeing advertisements and products and services being pushed for recompense by influences. There have been many questions as to whether it has been clear enough that people know they are being advertised to as opposed to simply being recommended a product, which is the real focus of the CMA investigation.

Private healthcare market competition investigation

The private healthcare market investigation that has been ongoing for over a decade is a matter that has seen a recent update published by the UK’s CMA, the Competition and Markets Authority.

Private healthcare is a particularly sensitive industry in relation to competition law, and it is one that must be monitored carefully to make sure that patients – i.e. consumers – can make the best choices for them. In this latest update from the CMA, it has been suggested that there is still much more work that needs to be done.

Suspected unfair pricing investigations

It is important for the CMA to look into incidents of suspected unfair pricing to ensure that consumers are not being overcharged and taken advantage of.

This can particularly be the case in relation to medication costs of which the CMA has looked into a number of issues about the NHS being overcharged, and we will provide an update of an example in this article.

Broadly speaking, it is important that pricing is set at fair levels and that companies are not taking advantage of consumers to drive their profits up in an obscene manner. At the same time, competition must be required to allow pricing to be set competitively as well.