~~Open~~Consultation ~~consultation~~outcome

UK Internal Market Act 2020: review and consultation

From:: Department for Business and Trade
Published: 23 January 2025
Last updated: 625 ~~February~~July 2025 — See all updates

Read the full outcome

Summary

UK government response to the Review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and Public Consultation

PDF, 391 KB, 48 pages

Ymateb Llywodraeth y DU i'r Adolygiad o Ddeddf Marchnad Fewnol y Deyrnas Unedig 2020 a’r Ymgynghoriad Cyhoeddus

PDF, 842 KB, 45 pages

Detail of outcome

The main outcomes of this review are that the government will:

implement UK Internal Market Act exclusions that have been agreed by all governments within a common framework

commit to considering a balance of factors in UK Internal Market Act exclusion proposals, in particular environmental protection and public health factors alongside economic impacts

establish a minimum economic impact process for considering smaller exclusions, and implement them where all governments agree the exclusion has an economic impact of less than £10 million a year

implement a ‘reserve’ exclusions process where it has not been possible for all 4 governments to reach agreement on an exclusion

work with the devolved governments to agree processes for how all 4 governments engage with businesses and other stakeholders on matters being discussed in common frameworks

work with the devolved governments to agree a process for all 4 governments to jointly refer UK internal market matters for advice to the Office for the Internal Market

Detail of feedback received

We received 85 responses to the consultation:

government – 2

parliamentary – 2

academic – 10

business – 28

business representative organisations – 23

environmental groups and animal welfare groups – 16

independent body – 1

did not say – 3

In addition to the consultation, we also held 6 stakeholder meetings across the 4 nations, including with businesses, environmental groups and academics.

We also spoke directly with the devolved governments, and provided them with a draft of the Part 4 section of this response for representations prior to publication, as required in law.

Original consultation

Summary

We are seeking views on what is and what is not working well about the UK Internal Market Act, so that we can quickly decide on next steps to make processes work better.

This consultation iswas ~~being~~ held on another website.

This consultation ~~closes~~ran atfrom
9am on 23 January 2025 to 11:59pm on 3 April 2025

Consultation description

We are seeking views on the operation of certain aspects of the UK Internal Market Act 2020.

This includes issues relating to:

the trade in goods across the UK under Part 1 of the Act
the provision of services across the UK under Part 2 of the Act
the processes for making exclusions for goods and services from Parts 1 and 2 of the Act
the recognition of professional qualifications under Part 3 of the Act
the role of the Office for the Internal Market in providing independent monitoring and advice under Part 4 of the Act

The consultation is related to a review process contemplated by Parts 1, 2 and 4 of the Act.

We would like to hear from anyone affected by or with an interest in the operation of the Act’s provisions, including but not limited to:

businesses and their representative organisations
specialist interest groups
academia
the devolved governments

Documents