The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026
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.
Arguments For
Implements key consumer protection measures relating to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) by bringing Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the Act into force, ensuring enhanced consumer rights in disputes.
Provides necessary clarity and a structured commencement schedule for key consumer protection legislation, promoting legal certainty for businesses and consumers.
Offers a structured transition period (until October 5th, 2026, or earlier if accreditation is resolved) for existing ADR providers, allowing them time to comply with new accreditation criteria without immediate disruption to ongoing cases.
Arguments Against
The phased commencement relies on later regulations to bring other parts of the Act into effect, which can create confusion regarding the overall legal framework applicable at any given time.
The transitional provisions, while offering a grace period, still impose new regulatory burdens (like accreditation requirements under section 296) on existing ADR providers, potentially leading to administrative costs or service cessation if compliance deadlines are missed.
The commencement date of 6th April 2026 might impose sudden compliance pressures on businesses and ADR schemes that have not yet prepared for the new requirements concerning consumer contract dispute resolution.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 284 (C. 21)
CONSUMER PROTECTION
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026
Made - - - -
11th March 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 339(1), (5) and (6) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024( 1 ).
These are Statutory Instruments made on March 11th, 2026, specifically numbering 2026 No. 284 (C. 21) under the main category of Consumer Protection.
The Secretary of State created these Regulations by using the powers granted under sections 339(1), (5), and (6) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
Citation and Interpretation
- -(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026.
- (2) In these Regulations-
'the Act' means the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024;
'the commencement date' means 6th April 2026.
This section sets out the official title for citing these specific Regulations.
It also defines key terms used throughout the document: 'the Act' refers to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, and 'the commencement date' is explicitly set as April 6th, 2026.
Provision of the Act coming into force on the commencement date
- -(1) The provisions of the Act specified in the following paragraphs of this regulation come into force on the commencement date, to the extent that they are not in force immediately before that date, subject to the transitional provisions in regulations 3 to 5.
- (2) Chapter 4 (alternative dispute resolution for consumer contract disputes) of Part 4 (consumer rights and disputes)( 2 ).
- (3) Schedule 25 (exempt ADR providers).
- (4) Schedule 26 (accreditation criteria).
- (5) Schedule 27 (consequential amendments etc).
This regulation specifies which parts of the 2024 Act become law on April 6th, 2026, unless they were already active. The main provisions being activated are Chapter 4 of Part 4, which deals with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for disagreements arising from consumer contracts.
Additionally, Schedules 25, 26, and 27 are brought into force, covering exemptions for ADR providers, the required criteria for accreditation, and resulting minor amendments to other laws.
Transitional provisions relating to ADR providers
- -(1) The prohibition on carrying out ADR( 3 ) in section 293(1) (prohibitions relating to acting as ADR provider) of the Act does not apply to ADR carried out by an ADR provider( 4 ) where the ADR started during the relevant period.
(2) The prohibition on charging fees to consumers in section 294(1) (prohibitions relating to charging fees) of the Act does not apply to ADR carried out by an ADR provider where the ADR started during the relevant period.
(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2)-
- (a) the ADR is to be taken as starting when the consumer contract dispute( 5 ) was first referred to the ADR provider in accordance with that provider's rules or procedures;
- (b) 'the relevant period' means the period beginning on the commencement date and ending-
- (i) on 5th October 2026; or
- (ii) if, before 5th October 2026, the ADR provider makes an application for accreditation under section 296 (application for accreditation) of the Act, on the date that application is granted, refused or withdrawn.
Regulation 3 creates transitional relief for existing ADR providers whose consumer dispute resolution processes began during the 'relevant period'.
These providers are exempted from the general ban on acting as an ADR provider (Section 293(1)) and the ban on charging consumers fees (Section 294(1)) for those specific cases.
The start of the ADR process is defined as the moment the consumer dispute is first referred to the provider according to their own established rules.
The 'relevant period' begins on the commencement date (April 6th, 2026) and ends either on October 5th, 2026, or on the day an accreditation application under Section 296 is concluded (granted, refused, or withdrawn), whichever comes first.
Transitional provisions relating to special ADR arrangements
- -(1) The prohibition on charging fees to consumers in section 294(3) of the Act does not apply to ADR carried out by an ADR provider under special ADR arrangements( 6 ) where the ADR started during the relevant period.
(2) Sections 293(2) and 310(5) (transitional provisions) of the Act do not apply so as to prevent a person from continuing to operate special ADR arrangements so far as relating to cases in which the ADR started during the relevant period.
(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2)-
- (a) the ADR is to be taken as starting when the consumer contract dispute is referred-
- (i) to the person who made the special ADR arrangements in accordance with the person's rules or procedures; or
- (ii) to the person carrying out the ADR under the special ADR arrangements, in accordance with the person's rules or procedures,
whichever occurs first;
- (b) 'the relevant period' means the period beginning on the commencement date and ending-
- (i) on 5th October 2026; or
- (ii) if, before 5th October 2026, a person makes an application for accreditation under section 296 of the Act that covers the making of special ADR arrangements with the ADR provider, on the date that application is granted, refused or withdrawn.
Regulation 4 extends transitional protection specifically to cases utilizing 'special ADR arrangements'.
This ensures that the ban on charging fees (Section 294(3)) does not apply if the ADR started in the 'relevant period'.
Furthermore, it prevents certain sections of the Act (293(2) and 310(5)) from stopping people from continuing these special arrangements for cases started during that transitional window.
For these special arrangements, the ADR start date is the earliest point the dispute is referred, either to the arrangement organizer or the person actually carrying out the ADR, according to their specific procedures.
The 'relevant period' definition is similar to Regulation 3, ending on October 5th, 2026, or upon the conclusion of a relevant accreditation application under Section 296.
11th March 2026
Kate Dearden Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Business and Trade
This concludes the main body of the instrument, showing that Kate Dearden, acting as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade, formally enacted these Regulations on March 11th, 2026.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring into force Chapter 4 of Part 4 and Schedules 25 to 27 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13) ('the Act') on 6th April 2026 ('the commencement date'). These are the third commencement regulations made under the Act.
These Regulations also make transitional provisions additional to those in section 310 of the Act which apply in relation to ADR that had started prior to, and continues after, the commencement of Chapter 4 Part 4 of the Act. Regulations 3 and 4 apply to ADR that started during the period beginning on the commencement date and ending on 5th October 2026, or where a relevant application for accreditation is made under section 296 of the Act, on the date that application is dealt with or withdrawn. Regulation 3 applies to ADR carried out by ADR providers. Regulation 4 applies to ADR carried out under special ADR arrangements.
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 confirms that these are the third set of regulations enacting parts of the 2024 Act on April 6th, 2026, specifically concerning ADR provisions.
It explains that Regulations 3 and 4 provide extra transitional rules beyond Section 310 of the Act, offering a grace period until October 5th, 2026 (or until accreditation is settled) for ADR processes that began during this window.
It also directs readers to the original impact assessments published for the Bill in April 2023, detailing the expected effects on business, voluntary, and public sectors, and provides contact information for obtaining copies.
NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
The following provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13) have been brought into force by commencement Regulations made before the date of these Regulations.
| Provision | Date of Commencement | S.I. No. | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------| | Part 1 so far as not already in force | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Part 2 so far as not already in force | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Part 3 so far as not already in force | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Chapter 1 of Part 4, except sections 232, 234 and 235 so far as not already in force | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Chapter 3 of Part 4 so far as not already in force | 1st January 2026 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Chapter 1 of Part 5 so far as not already in force | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Chapter 2 of Part 5 | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. |
| Provision | Date of Commencement | S.I. No. | |-----------------------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------| | Section 326 so far as not already in force | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Section 327(1) | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Section 327(2) for limited purposes | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Section 327(2) so far as not already in force | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Section 327(3) and (4) | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Section 328 | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Section 329 | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Section 335 for limited purposes | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Section 335 for limited purposes | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedules 1 to 5 | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Schedules 8 to 14 | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Schedule 15 for limited purposes | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Schedule 15 so far as not already in force | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 16 | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 17 | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 18 | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 19 | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 20 | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 21 | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 24 so far as not already in force | 1st January 2026 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 28 | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Schedule 29 for limited purposes | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Schedule 29 so far as not already in force | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. | | Schedule 30 for limited purposes | 1st January 2025 | S.I. 2024/1226. | | Schedule 30 so far as not already in force | 6th April 2025 | S.I. 2025/272. |
This note provides a historical record of prior commencement orders made under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, listing which parts of the Act became law on various dates between January 1st, 2025, and January 1st, 2026.
This contextualizes the present instrument as the third step in a staggered implementation process for the overarching Act.
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