Advisory letters issued by the CMA
Updated 7 March 2023
This register sets out summary details of advisory letters sent by the CMA.
Each entry for the year in question relates to a particular matter where the CMA has received a complaint or other intelligence about a business that may be breaking competition law. We sometimes send letters to multiple businesses about a single matter.
Individual case pages may record where an advisory letter has been sent in connection with a formal investigation.
At the end of each year we will provide an annual total of advisory letters sent that year. After 5 years, individual register entries will be removed from the register. Annual aggregate figures will remain.
The market sectors are based on those listed in the CMA’s case directory. As these are relatively broadly defined sectors, they may cover a number of different industries.
2022
Total sent in 2022: 218
Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
---|---|
Chapter I – supplier seeking to restrict the level of discounts offered by online retailers of its products | Light fittings |
2021
Total sent in 2021: 38
Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
---|---|
Chapter I – agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to price | Car parking |
Chapter I – agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to markets/customers served | Safety clothing |
Chapter I – agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to markets/customers served | Cleaning products |
Chapter I – agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses relating to price | Assistive goods and services |
Chapter I and Chapter II – agreement or concerted practice restricting choice of supply | Funeral related products |
Chapter I – disclosure of confidential and commercially sensitive information, including pricing information, with one or more competing businesses | Educational resources |
2020
Total sent in 2020: 14
Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
---|---|
Chapter I – supplier seeking to ensure that online retailers of its products adhere to its Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs) or risk being prevented from selling its products | Bathroom supplies |
Chapter I – supplier seeking to ensure that online retailers of its products adhere to its Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs) or risk being prevented from selling its products | Animal food |
Chapter I – disclosure and/or receipt of confidential and commercially sensitive information, including pricing information, with/from one or more competing businesses | Arts and crafts |
Chapter I – agreements or concerted practices among competing businesses to coordinate or fix prices | Beauty services |
2019
Total sent in 2019: 2
Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
---|---|
Chapter I - suspected anti-competitive arrangements | Healthcare sector |
2018
Total sent in 2018: 22
Potential issue(s) | Market sector |
---|---|
Chapter I – arrangements or concerted practices among competing local businesses relating to price | Retail and wholesale – cosmetic products and treatments |
Chapter I – resale price maintenance; supplier restricting the price at which its products are sold online by retailers through the potential threat of supply withdrawal | Retail and wholesale - furniture |
Chapter I – resale price maintenance; supplier restricting the price at which its products are sold online by retailers through the potential threat of supply withdrawal | Retail and wholesale -sports and outdoor clothing and equipment |
Chapter I – resale price maintenance; supplier restricting the price at which its products are sold online by retailers through the potential threat of supply withdrawal | Retail and wholesale – adult healthcare |
Chapter I – sharing of commercially sensitive information, including price information, with one or more competing businesses | Retail and wholesale – agricultural machinery |
Chapter II – excessive pricing (see case page) | Retail and wholesale – pharmaceuticals |
Chapter I – price co-ordination in respect to local minicab services | Private hire vehicle service |
Chapter I – arrangements between local retailers to limit the supply of and/or share the market in a product | Confectionary retail |