The UK government has confirmed today that, as part of its so-called ‘bonfire of the quangos,’ it intends to make substantial changes to the current institutional framework for the enforcement of competition (antitrust) and consumer protection law.
Many details remain unclear, pending formal consultation on the government’s proposals, which is due to take place in 2011. It does appear likely, however, that such changes will require potentially far-reaching amendments to the substantive legal framework within which the existing agencies operate and will also have implications for the nature and amount of competition and consumer protection enforcement activity for some years to come.