Extended the transitional period for Alternative Dispute Resolution providers from 5 October 2026 to 7 January 2027.

These Regulations amend the transitional provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 to extend the deadline for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers and special ADR arrangements to comply with new requirements.

The document changes the end date of the transitional period from 5 October 2026 to 7 January 2027.

This extension applies to ADR providers, particularly those in the aviation sector, and enables the Civil Aviation Authority to be integrated as a competent authority within the new regulatory framework.

The regulations mandated specific annual reporting requirements for accredited ADR providers, final reporting for former accredited providers, and supplementary data submission for exempt ADR providers regarding consumer contract disputes.

These Regulations, made under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, establish mandatory information reporting obligations for various types of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers concerning consumer contract disputes.

Accredited ADR providers must submit annual reports detailing performance metrics and systemic issues, alongside updating operational information previously submitted during accreditation.

Former accredited providers must submit a final report, and designated exempt ADR providers must provide information to the overarching ADR authority if that data is already supplied to their sector-specific regulator, all aimed at improving regulatory oversight and consumer protection in dispute resolution.

The instrument set confirmed fees for application, variation, and periodic payments for Alternative Dispute Resolution providers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

These Regulations officially set the specific monetary amounts for fees payable by providers of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services, as mandated by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

The instrument details the fixed fees for applying for, varying, and periodically maintaining accreditation, specifying the amounts for initial applications (£6,151), application variation (£950), and recurring six-monthly fees (£1,318), all of which are payable to the designated ADR authority starting from April 6th, 2026.

The Regulations commenced Chapter 4 of Part 4 and Schedules 25 to 27 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on 6th April 2026 and established transitional provisions for existing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes.

These Regulations officially bring into force Chapter 4 (Alternative Dispute Resolution for consumer contract disputes) and related Schedules (25 to 27) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 starting on 6th April 2026, marking the third phase of implementation for the Act, and simultaneously establish specific transitional provisions to manage ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) cases initiated before or shortly after the commencement date, granting existing providers a temporary exemption from new prohibitions on acting as an ADR provider or charging fees until they achieve accreditation or until October 5th, 2026.

The Regulations amended primary and secondary UK legislation to remove references to the revoked 2015 Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulations and substitute them with provisions from the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

These Regulations make necessary technical adjustments to various pieces of UK legislation, including Acts of Parliament and secondary instruments, to ensure they align correctly following the introduction of provisions concerning Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and the simultaneous revocation of the 2015 ADR Regulations.

The amendments primarily involve substituting obsolete references to the 2015 Regulations with references to the new framework in the 2024 Act, or removing references entirely where the underlying requirement is no longer applicable, ensuring a consistent legal landscape for consumer dispute resolution.

Statutory Instrument conferred key functions related to the accreditation, fee approval, enforcement, and reporting of consumer Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers under the DMCC Act 2024 onto the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) starting April 2026.

These Statutory Instruments, made under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, formally confer specific regulatory functions related to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for consumer contract disputes onto the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), effective April 6, 2026.

The Regulations detail the procedures the CTSI must follow when approving fee provisions, handling accreditation applications, suspending or revoking accreditations, enforcing compliance, and disclosing relevant information to consumers, alongside establishing mandatory quarterly and annual reporting requirements to the Secretary of State and the public.

The 2025 rules amended the Competition Appeal Tribunal Rules 2015 to incorporate procedures for claims under section 101 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (Amendment) Rules 2025 amend the 2015 rules to address claims under section 101 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

These amendments primarily clarify procedural rules for claims related to breaches of requirements imposed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and incorporate provisions for CMA notification, potential stays of proceedings, and the Tribunal's consideration of stays.

The changes aim to create a more streamlined and efficient process for resolving such claims.

The regulations amended the Enterprise Act 2002 to create exceptions to merger control rules for newspaper enterprises involving foreign powers, clarifying conditions for control or influence and adjusting relevant sections accordingly.

These regulations amend the Enterprise Act 2002 to create exceptions within the merger control regime for newspaper enterprises involving foreign powers.

They introduce specific circumstances under which a foreign power's holding of shares or voting rights in a newspaper owner does not constitute control or influence, primarily focusing on situations involving state-owned investors with limited holdings and associated persons with minimal ownership stakes.

The changes aim to streamline the merger review process while addressing concerns around foreign influence.