Policy paper

Joint statement on consumer protection

Published 7 April 2025

Effective consumer protection supports growth – the UK government’s number one mission. It gives people confidence to spend their hard-earned money across the economy. And it gives businesses confidence to invest and innovate, knowing that they operate on a level playing field, playing by the same rules as their competitors.

The government has now commenced landmark provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 that give the CMA new powers to act more swiftly and directly to deliver growth-focused consumer protection. The CMA will now be able to:

• decide itself whether consumer protection laws have been infringed, rather than litigating through the courts
• tackle breaches directly, including through consumer redress and fines

As the draft Strategic Steer to the CMA lays out, the government expects the CMA to use these important new powers in the service of the growth mission, by promoting consumer trust and confidence, while deterring poor corporate practice. The draft Steer also emphasises the importance of engagement by the CMA with those affected by its work, including in relation to consumer protection.

Reflecting the draft Steer, and the feedback it has received through consultation and direct engagement with businesses and other stakeholders, the CMA has set out how it will approach its new powers in the 12 months following commencement. As part of this – and in line with the changes it is making to improve pace, predictability, proportionality and process across its work – the CMA has committed to:

• support businesses to do the right thing by their customers, by helping them understand how to comply with consumer law

• improve consumer trust and confidence by targeting more egregious conduct, where the law is clear – such as providing false information to consumers, or using aggressive sales practices that prey on those in vulnerable positions – and focusing action on stopping harms and ensuring redress

• collaborate and engage with other regulators, enforcers, consumer groups and international partners to avoid duplication, and ensure CMA action is coherent, timely, and achieves the greatest impact for UK consumers

The government strongly endorses the CMA’s intended approach, which aligns with the draft Steer, and the role it sees for robust and effective consumer protection in supporting the growth mission. In its role as the CMA’s sponsor department, and reflecting its responsibility for the wider framework for consumer policy, DBT will continue to support the CMA as it delivers the new consumer protection regime, and help to ensure appropriate co-ordination across the consumer landscape.