The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially modernized its approach to market investigations to foster a more agile and predictable business environment. Published on February 3, 2026, the updated Markets Regime Guidance incorporates the “4Ps” framework—Pace, Predictability, Proportionality, and Process—to ensure regulatory actions support economic growth without imposing unnecessary burdens.
Streamlining the Process
To provide businesses with greater certainty, the CMA will now issue a Project Roadmap at the start of every inquiry. These roadmaps act as a tailored guide, detailing specific milestones, key performance indicators (KPIs), and scheduled engagement points with decision-makers. Furthermore, the CMA will bring in external sector experts to help the team understand complex market dynamics more quickly.
Faster Decision-Making
One of the most notable changes is the move away from the routine publication of “working papers”. Instead, the CMA will prioritize earlier interim reports and informal “state of play” meetings to share emerging thinking with affected parties. While some stakeholders raised concerns about transparency, the CMA believes this shift will significantly reduce the time and administrative costs involved in lengthy investigations.
Targeted Remedies
The guidance introduces new powers to conduct remedy trials, allowing the CMA to test the implementation of information-based solutions in real-time. To protect against long-term regulatory creep, the CMA has also committed to including “sunset clauses” as a default, ensuring that remedies are automatically removed once they are no longer necessary.
By consolidating multiple documents into this single, accessible guide, the CMA aims to make the UK’s competition regime more transparent and efficient for businesses and consumers alike.