{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980.json",
  "id": "ukpga/1980/21",
  "title": "Competition Act 1980",
  "long_title": "An Act to abolish the Price Commission; to make provision for the control of anti-competitive practices in the supply and acquisition of goods and the supply and securing of services; to provide for references of certain public bodies and other persons to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; to provide for the investigation of prices and charges by the Director General of Fair Trading; to provide for the making of grants to certain bodies; to amend and provide for the amendment of the Fair Trading Act 1973; to make amendments with respect to the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976; to repeal the remaining provisions of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973; and for purposes connected therewith.",
  "citation": "1980 c. 21",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "1980",
  "number": "21",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1980-04-03",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2025-01-01",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "unapplied_effects": 5,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-1",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Control of anti-competitive practices",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-2",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-3",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-4",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/5",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-5",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-6",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-7",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/8",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "8",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-8",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/9",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-9",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/10",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "10",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-10",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/control-of-anticompetitive-practices"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Further references and investigations",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11",
      "heading": "References of public bodies and certain other persons to the CMA",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-11",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11A",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11A",
      "heading": "References under section 11: time-limits",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-11A",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11B",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11B",
      "heading": "References under section 11: powers of investigation and penalties",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-11B",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11C",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11C",
      "heading": "References under section 11: further supplementary provisions",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-11C",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11D",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11D",
      "heading": "Interim orders",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-11D",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/12",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "12",
      "heading": "Orders following report under section 11.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-12",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/13",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "13",
      "heading": "Investigations of prices directed by Secretary of State.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-13",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/further-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/patents-and-agricultural-schemes",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Patents and agricultural schemes",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/14",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "14",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-14",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/patents-and-agricultural-schemes"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/15",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "15",
      "heading": "Agricultural schemes: special provisions.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-15",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/patents-and-agricultural-schemes"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/general-provisions-about-references-and-investigations",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "General provisions about references and investigations",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "16",
      "heading": "General provisions as to reports.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-16",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/general-provisions-about-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/17",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "17",
      "heading": "Laying before Parliament and publication of reports.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-17",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/general-provisions-about-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/18",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "18",
      "heading": "Information and advice about operation of Act.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-18",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/general-provisions-about-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/19",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "19",
      "heading": "Restriction on disclosure of information.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-19",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/general-provisions-about-references-and-investigations"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/grants",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Grants",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/20",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "20",
      "heading": "Power to make grants to certain bodies.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-20",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/grants"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/amendments-of-fair-trading-act-1973",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Amendments of Fair Trading Act 1973",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/21",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "21",
      "heading": "Monopoly references by Secretary of State alone.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-21",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-fair-trading-act-1973"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/22",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "22",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-22",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-fair-trading-act-1973"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/23",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "23",
      "heading": "Amendment of s.137(3) of Fair Trading Act 1973.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-23",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-fair-trading-act-1973"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/24",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "24",
      "heading": "Modification of provisions about performance of Commission’s functions.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-24",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-fair-trading-act-1973"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/amendments-of-restrictive-trade-practices-act-1976",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Amendments of Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/25",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "25",
      "heading": ".",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-25",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-restrictive-trade-practices-act-1976"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/26",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "26",
      "heading": ".",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-26",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-restrictive-trade-practices-act-1976"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/27",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "27",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-27",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-restrictive-trade-practices-act-1976"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/28",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "28",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-28",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-restrictive-trade-practices-act-1976"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/29",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "29",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-29",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-restrictive-trade-practices-act-1976"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/30",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "30",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-30",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "crossheading/amendments-of-restrictive-trade-practices-act-1976"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/supplementary",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Supplementary",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/31",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "31",
      "heading": "Orders and regulations.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-31",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/supplementary"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/32",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "32",
      "heading": "Financial provisions.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-32",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/supplementary"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/33",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "33",
      "heading": "Short title, interpretation, repeals, commencement and extent.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1980/section-33",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/supplementary"
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/1",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": "1. . .",
      "heading": null,
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/2",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "ENACTMENTS REPEALED",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affected_provisions": "s. 20",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2002/40",
      "affecting_title": "Enterprise Act 2002",
      "affecting_provisions": "Sch. 26"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/21",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T17:27:35.471988+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}