Competition Act 1998

UK legislation designed to prevent companies from executing anticompetitive policies. Modelled on European Community competition law, the Act came fully into effect in March 2000. Among other things, UK competition law forbids the formation of cartels for the purpose of carrying out anticompetitive practices. The law also prohibits restrictive practices such as full line forcing and other abuses of a dominant position. Competition legislation also allows for the referral of proposed mergers and takeovers to the Competition Commission in order to establish whether such actions are in the public interest or are anticompetitive.