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references to the new framework in the 2024 Act, or removing references entirely where the underlying requirement is no longer applicable, ensuring a consistent legal landscape for consumer dispute resolution.
Arguments For
Updating existing legislation to align with the new framework established by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, ensuring legal consistency regarding consumer dispute resolution.
Revoking outdated references to the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015, thereby streamlining and modernizing the legal structure for ADR clarity.
Maintaining consumer protection continuity by explicitly substituting references to the revoked 2015 Regulations with references to the relevant Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the 2024 Act where necessary, such as in package travel contracts.
Clarifying the application of specific provisions within financial services by fixing references to past versions of the 2015 ADR Regulations, preventing ambiguity after their revocation.
Arguments Against
The necessity of making numerous technical, consequential amendments across existing Acts and Regulations, potentially increasing complexity during the transition period for legal practitioners and compliance officers.
The process itself relies on the successful implementation of the main Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, meaning any delays or issues with the primary legislation could affect the stability of these consequential changes.
Introducing a 'point in time' reference in financial services legislation might create difficulties for case law interpretation if the historical context of the fixed date is not easily accessible or understood.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 263 CONSUMER PROTECTION
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
Made - - - -
9th March 2026
Coming into force - -
6th April 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 336(1) and (2) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024( 1 ).
A draft of these Regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament in accordance with section 336(3) and 337(3) of that Act.
These are the introductory details for a Statutory Instrument numbered 2026 No. 263, falling under the category of Consumer Protection.
The instrument is named the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026.
It was made on March 9, 2026, and came into force on April 6, 2026.
The Secretary of State issues these Regulations using powers granted under sections 336(1) and (2) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
Parliament approved a draft of these Regulations, as required by sections 336(3) and 337(3) of the primary Act.
Part 1
Introductory
Citation, commencement and extent
- -(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026.
- (2) These Regulations come into force on 6th April 2026.
- (3) An amendment made by these Regulations has the same extent as the provision amended.
Part 1 covers introductory matters for the instrument.
Paragraph 1 establishes the title of the Regulations, confirming they are the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026.
These Regulations officially take effect on April 6, 2026.
Furthermore, any modification made by these Regulations will apply to the exact same geographical or legal jurisdictions as the original provision that is being altered.
Part 2
Amendments to Acts of Parliament
Amendment to Consumer Rights Act 2015
- In Part 4 of Schedule 5 (investigatory powers etc) to the Consumer Rights Act 2015( 2 ), in paragraph 20A omit 'Regulation 19(1) and (2) of the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015.'.
Part 2 details changes made to primary legislation, starting with the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Specifically, in Schedule 5, Part 4, which addresses investigatory powers, paragraph 20A is modified.
This modification involves removing the reference to 'Regulation 19(1) and (2) of the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015', as this specific regulation is being superseded or revoked by the new Act.
Amendment to Energy Act 2023
- In the Energy Act 2023( 3 ), omit section 218 (alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes).
This section amends the Energy Act 2023 by removing section 218 entirely.
Section 218 previously concerned alternative dispute resolution mechanisms specifically for consumer disputes within the energy sector.
Its omission signals that the framework for energy consumer dispute resolution will now be governed or superseded by the provisions introduced in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
Amendment to Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
- In Part 1 of Schedule 15 to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (consumer protection enactments), in paragraph 2 (secondary legislation) omit-
'Regulations 19(1) and (2) of the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/542) (1) All public designated enforcers. (2) All private designated enforcers.'.
This part amends the main piece of legislation under which these Regulations are made—the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 itself.
Within Schedule 15, Part 1, which lists consumer protection enactments, paragraph 2 is modified.
The modification removes the specific reference to the 2015 ADR Regulations, which previously designated competent authorities (public and private), indicating that this designation and information requirement are now managed under the 2024 Act's new structure.
Part 3
Amendments to other legislation
Amendment to Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018
- In paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 (information to be provided in the package travel contract) to the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018( 4 ), for 'the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015' substitute 'Chapter 4 of Part 4 to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024'.
Part 3 handles amendments to secondary legislation, starting with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018.
Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 requires specific information to be included in package travel contracts.
The text mandates replacing the old reference to the 2015 ADR Regulations with a direct reference to 'Chapter 4 of Part 4 to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024', ensuring travelers are directed to the current governing law for dispute resolution.
Amendment to Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Claims Management Activity) Order 2018
- In article 71 (procedure for dealing with relevant complaints) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Claims Management Activity) Order 2018( 5 ), at the end of paragraph (7),
- (a) omit '.' and,
- (b) insert 'as it was in force on 1st April 2019.'
This section amends the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Claims Management Activity) Order 2018 regarding the procedure for handling relevant complaints in article 71.
Specifically, it modifies the end of paragraph (7).
This modification fixes the reference to the 2015 ADR Regulations to a specific date: April 1, 2019.
This action legally locks the reference to the version of the 2015 Regulations as it existed on that date, preventing future revocation or amendment of the 2015 Regulations from affecting this older provision.
( 2 ) 2015 c. 15. Paragraph 20A and cross-heading inserted by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), section 339(1), Schedule 18, paragraph 11(10) (with Schedule 19); S.I. 2025/272, regulation 2(1) and (9).
( 3 ) 2023 c. 52.
( 4 ) S.I. 2018/634. Reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015 was inserted by S.I. 2018/1367, regulations 1(1) and 12(b).
( 5 ) S.I. 2018/1253.
9th March 2026
Kate Dearden Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Business and Trade
These are footnotes referencing the primary legislation and previous Statutory Instruments mentioned earlier in the text, which provide context for the insertions and amendments involved.
For instance, footnote 2 cites the 2015 Act and notes how paragraph 20A was originally inserted by the 2024 Act.
Footnote 4 details how the reference to the 2015 ADR Regulations was previously added to the Package Travel Regulations.
The document concludes with the signing details, showing it was made on March 9, 2026, by Kate Dearden, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make amendments to primary and secondary legislation in consequence of the coming into force of Part 4 Chapter 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13) ('the Act') on 6th April 2026 and the revocation of the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015 ('the 2015 ADR Regulations') (S.I. 2015/542).
Regulations 2 to 5 make consequential amendments to primary and secondary legislation removing redundant references of the 2015 ADR Regulations and in some cases, replacing them with a reference to Part 4 Chapter 4 of the Act.
Regulation 6 adds a point in time reference to article 71 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Claims Management Activity) Order 2018 to clarify that the reference to paragraph 13 of Schedule 3 to the 2015 ADR Regulations is fixed to the specific point at which article 71(7) came into force and does not reference the 2015 ADR Regulations as they exist following revocation.
The impact assessments completed for the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, introduced to Parliament on 25th April 2023, contain an assessment of the effect that the reforms to the consumer regime will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector. They are available at: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3453/publications. Printed copies can be obtained from the Department for Business and Trade, Old Admiralty Building, Admiralty Place, London, SW1A 2DY.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the Regulations modify existing legislation because Part 4 Chapter 4 of the 2024 Act is commencing on April 6, 2026, leading to the revocation of the 2015 ADR Regulations.
Regulations 2 through 5 remove outdated mentions of the 2015 ADR Regulations from various laws, substituting them where necessary with references to the new ADR framework within the 2024 Act, maintaining the required legal connection.
Regulation 6 specifically deals with an old reference in financial services complaints handling, setting it to a fixed date (April 1, 2019) to avoid referencing the revoked 2015 Regulations as they might exist after revocation.
Information regarding the expected costs and impacts of the overarching consumer reforms is available via URLs and physical addresses for the Department for Business and Trade.