UK Internal Market Act 2020: review and consultation
Read the full outcome
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
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
Updates to this page
-
Welsh-language version of outcome document 'UK government response to the Review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and Public Consultation' added.
Update history
2025-11-18 10:54
Minor update made to ‘Online responses to the UK Internal Market Act Review consultation’.
2025-11-17 13:06
‘Responses to the UK Internal Market Act Review consultation’ and ‘Online responses to the UK Internal Market Act Review consultation’ added to consultation outcome.
2025-07-25 09:23
Welsh-language version of outcome document ‘UK government response to the Review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and Public Consultation’ added.
2025-07-15 09:46
Consultation outcome and public feedback were added.
2025-02-06 16:40
Welsh translation of consultation document added to documents list.
2025-01-29 15:53
Consultation document updated to include links to online survey.
2025-01-23 17:22
First published.