{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1998/section-38",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1998/section-38.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1998/41",
  "legislation_title": "Competition Act 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1998",
  "path": "section/38",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "38",
  "heading": "The appropriate level of a penalty.",
  "text": "(1) The CMA must prepare and publish guidance as to the appropriate amount of any penalty under this Part in respect of an infringement of the Chapter 1 prohibition or the Chapter 2 prohibition.\n(1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(2) The CMA may at any time alter the guidance.\n(3) If the guidance is altered, the CMA must publish it as altered.\n(4) No guidance is to be published under this section without the approval of the Secretary of State.\n(5) The CMA may, after consulting the Secretary of State, choose how it publishes its guidance.\n(6) If the CMA is preparing or altering guidance under this section it must consult such persons as it considers appropriate.\n(7) If the proposed guidance or alteration relates to a matter in respect of which a regulator exercises concurrent jurisdiction, those consulted must include that regulator.\n(8) When setting the amount of a penalty under this Part in respect of an infringement of a kind mentioned in subsection (1) , the CMA and the Tribunal must have regard to the guidance for the time being in force under this section.\n(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in s. 38(1)-(3) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 22 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 38(1) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 40(4), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 38(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 13(a) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 38(1A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 13(b) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 38(1A) inserted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 1 para. 23(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in s. 38(5)(6) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 22 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 38 substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 38(30); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 38(8) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 40(6), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Word in s. 38(8)(9) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 22 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 38(8) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 44(3), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 38(9) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 13(c) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "S. 38(10) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 13(c) (with Sch. 4 paras. 7, 13) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 38 wholly in force; s. 38 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 76(3); s. 38(1)-(7) in force at 11.1.1999 by S.I. 1998/3166, art. 2, Sch.; s. 38(8)-(10) in force at 1.3.2000 by S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/41/section/38",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T17:12:29.340800+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."
  }
}