Market studies guidance

Start date: 12 May 2009
Close date: 4 August 2009

In 2004, the OFT published the first edition of 'Market Studies: Guidance on the OFT approach'. Following an internal review of its markets work, the OFT decided to revise its market studies guidance to reflect how the OFT's approach to market studies has evolved. This decision was announced at the OFT conference Market studies: finding and fixing problem markets, held on 4 June 2008, by Philip Collins, the Chairman of the OFT.

The OFT is now consulting on the revised market studies guidance. The revision brings the guidance up to date. It explains the current processes and principles that the OFT applies to its market studies work.

The market studies guidance presented in the consultation document follows a similar structure to the 2004 guidance. It begins with an introduction to the guidance and then provides an explanation of why the OFT conducts market studies. The guidance then sets out the principles the OFT uses to select markets for study. It explains how the OFT manages market study projects once a decision has been taken to proceed with a study. The guidance identifies the potential outcomes for a market study. The consultation guidance also contains a chapter that explains how the OFT evaluates its market studies work, an area not covered in the 2004 guidance.

The purpose of this consultation is to obtain feedback on how the revised guidance is presented and how clear the content is so that we can ensure its usefulness to its audience. It is aimed at businesses and their legal advisors and organisations representing consumers' interests.

Download Market studies guidance - consultation document (pdf 216 kb)

This has now closed.

Download the Market studies guidance - June 2010 (pdf 586kb)
Download the Summary of responses (pdf 418kb)

Individual responses are available below.

Any further comments may be sent to:

Natalie Lam
3C/56, Markets Policy and Remedies
Office of Fair Trading
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London EC4Y 8JX
Email: natalie.lam@oft.gsi,gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7211 8129
Fax: 020 7211 8757

Individual responses

All documents are PDFs.

Allen & Overy LLP

Ashurst LLP

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

Baker & McKenzie LLP

Barclays Bank plc

Citizens Advice Bureau

Clifford Chance LLP

Confederation of British Industry

Finance and Leasing Association

Herbert Smith LLP