OpenLegislation

United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020

2020 c. 27 · Enacted 17 December 2020 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 1 change made by later legislation has not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 19 February 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 2 Pt. 2words insertedEnergy Act 2023 Sch. 17 para. 19

An Act to make provision in connection with the internal market for goods and services in the United Kingdom (including provision about the recognition of professional and other qualifications); to make provision in connection with provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol relating to trade and state aid; to authorise the provision of financial assistance by Ministers of the Crown in connection with economic development, infrastructure, culture, sport and educational or training activities and exchanges; to make regulation of the provision of distortive or harmful subsidies a reserved or excepted matter; and for connected purposes.

[17th December 2020]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: UK market access: goods
  2. Introductory
  3. 1Purpose of Part 1
  4. Mutual recognition: goods
  5. 2The mutual recognition principle for goods
  6. 3Relevant requirements for the purposes of section 2
  7. 4Exclusion of certain requirements existing before commencement
  8. Non-discrimination: goods
  9. 5The non-discrimination principle for goods
  10. 6Relevant requirements for the purposes of the non-discrimination principle
  11. 7The non-discrimination principle: direct discrimination
  12. 8The non-discrimination principle: indirect discrimination
  13. 9Exclusion of certain provision existing before commencement
  14. Exclusions from market access principles
  15. 10Further exclusions from market access principles
  16. Supplementary
  17. 11Modifications in connection with the Northern Ireland Protocol
  18. 12Guidance relating to Part 1
  19. 13Duty to review the use of Part 1 amendment powers
  20. 14Sale of goods complying with local law
  21. 15Interpretation of references to “sale” in Part 1
  22. 16Interpretation of other expressions used in Part 1
  23. Part 2: UK market access: services
  24. 17Services: overview
  25. 18Services: exclusions
  26. 19Services: mutual recognition of authorisation requirements
  27. 20Direct discrimination in the regulation of services
  28. 21Indirect discrimination in the regulation of services
  29. 22Duty to review the use of Part 2 amendment powers
  30. 23Interpretation of Part 2
  31. Part 3: UK market access: professional qualifications and regulation
  32. 24Access to professions on grounds of qualifications or experience
  33. 25Meaning of “qualified” UK resident
  34. 26Exception from section 24 where individual assessment offered
  35. 27Other exceptions from section 24
  36. 28Professional regulation not within section 24: equal treatment
  37. 29Interpretation of Part 3
  38. Part 4: Independent advice on and monitoring of UK internal market
  39. General provision about functions under Part 4
  40. 30Functions of the CMA under Part 4: general provisions
  41. 31Objective and general functions
  42. 32Office for the Internal Market panel and task groups
  43. Reporting, advisory and monitoring functions
  44. 33Monitoring and reporting on the operation of the UK internal market
  45. 34Advising etc on proposed regulatory provisions on request
  46. 35Provision of report on request after regulatory provision is passed or made
  47. 36Report on request on provision considered to have detrimental effects
  48. 37Statements on reports under section 36
  49. 38Reports under Part 4
  50. 39General advice and information with regard to exercise of functions
  51. 40Laying of annual documents before devolved legislatures
  52. Information-gathering powers
  53. 41Information-gathering powers
  54. 42Enforcement
  55. 43Penalties
  56. Review
  57. 44Duty to review arrangements for carrying out Part 4 functions
  58. Interpretation
  59. 45Interpretation of Part 4
  60. Part 5: Northern Ireland Protocol
  61. Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market and customs territory
  62. 45AOngoing guarantee of UK internal market access for qualifying Northern Ireland goods
  63. 45BGoods moved from Northern Ireland: position in relation to export procedures
  64. 45CFurther protections in respect of Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market
  65. 46Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market and customs territory
  66. 46AGuidance relating to section 46
  67. Unfettered access
  68. 47Unfettered access to UK internal market for Northern Ireland goods
  69. State aid
  70. 48Guidance on Article 10 of the Northern Ireland Protocol
  71. 49Notification of state aid for the purposes of the Northern Ireland Protocol
  72. Part 6: Financial assistance
  73. 50Power to provide financial assistance for economic development etc
  74. 51Financial assistance: supplementary
  75. Part 7: Subsidy control
  76. 52Regulation of distortive or harmful subsidies
  77. 53UK subsidy control consultation: engagement with the devolved authorities on the Government response
  78. Part 8: Final provisions
  79. 54Protection of Act against modification
  80. 55Further provision in connection with the Northern Ireland Protocol
  81. 56Regulations: general
  82. 57Regulations: references to parliamentary procedures
  83. 58Interpretation: general
  84. 59Extent, commencement and short title
  85. Schedule 1: Exclusions from market access principles
  86. Threats to human, animal or plant health
  87. 1Paragraph 1
  88. 2Paragraph 2
  89. 3Paragraph 3
  90. 4Paragraph 4
  91. 5Paragraph 5
  92. Chemicals
  93. 6Paragraph 6
  94. 7Paragraph 7
  95. 8Paragraph 8
  96. Fertilisers and pesticides
  97. 9Paragraph 9
  98. 10Paragraph 10
  99. Taxation
  100. 11Paragraph 11
  101. Provision having effect in more than one part of the United Kingdom
  102. 12Paragraph 12
  103. Single-use plastic items
  104. 13Paragraph 13
  105. Glue traps
  106. 14Paragraph 14
  107. Schedule 2: Services exclusions
  108. 1SERVICES TO WHICH SECTION 19 (MUTUAL RECOGNITION) DOES NOT APPLY
  109. 2SERVICES TO WHICH SECTIONS 20 AND 21 (NON-DISCRIMINATION) DO NOT APPLY
  110. 3Authorisation requirements to which section 19 (mutual recognition) does not apply
  111. 4Regulatory requirements to which sections 20 and 21 (non-discrimination) do not apply
  112. Schedule 3: Constitution etc of Office for the Internal Market panel and task groups
  113. 1Paragraph 1
  114. 2Paragraph 2
  115. 3Paragraph 3
  116. 4Paragraph 4
  117. 5Paragraph 5
  118. 6Paragraph 6
  119. 7Paragraph 7
  120. 8Paragraph 8