The UK Competition Authority publishes consultation on its proposed recommendations to the Government on the future of the retained vertical agreements block exemption regulation

On 17 June 2021 the CMA published a consultation on its proposed recommendations to the Secretary of State on the future of the retained vertical agreements block exemption Regulation (VBER). At the end of the Brexit transition period the EU VBER became retained EU law in the UK, until its expiry on 31 May 2022. After that date, it is up to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the CMA, to decide whether to extend, vary or revoke the retained VBER. The CMA’s proposed recommendation is to replace the retained VBER with a UK Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order (UK VABEO), tailored to the needs of businesses operating in the UK and to the needs of UK consumers. The CMA has decided that large-scale and fundamental changes to the current exemption are not appropriate as this would