Office for the Internal Market (OIM)
Agency overview
Formed21 September 2021
Typea part of a non-ministerial department
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
HeadquartersThe Cabot, 25 Cabot Square,
London, E14 4QZ
Agency executives
Parent agencyCompetition and Markets Authority
Key document
WebsiteOffice for the Internal Market (gov.uk)

The Office for the Internal Market (OIM) is that part of the Competition and Markets Authority (a non-ministerial department) responsible for overseeing the UK internal market. Its objective is to monitor the UK internal market by reporting every year and every 5 years on the functioning of the internal market to the Parliament of the United Kingdom and devolved parliaments,[1][2][3] and to conduct reviews and develop tools.[4]

Any nation or business within the UK can seek information from the office regarding the UK internal market principles of non-discrimination and mutual recognition.[5] The office can issue fines and it has been proposed that this should be £30,000 for single fixed penalties and £15,000 for a daily rate penalties.[6]

History

On 17 December 2020, the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 received royal assent. Part 4 of the Act sets out arrangements for the creation the Office of the Internal Market within the Competition and Markets Authority.[7]

On 22 March 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority appointed Rachel Merelie as the Senior Director for the OIM.[8] On 21 September 2021, the Office for the Internal Market officially opened and began operating as the advisory body for the UK internal market.[9]

Office for the Internal Market panel

The office for the internal market panel that is responsible for overseeing the UK internal market.[10] This panel consists of 7 members, including the panel chair, representatives of the devolved nations and independent members.[11]

On 1 September 2021 the UK Office for the Internal Market began the process of filling the position for the OIM panel and this was due to finish on 3 October 2021.[12] On 11 April 2022 Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng appointed Murdoch MacLennan as the first chair of the panel.[13]

On 20 December 2023 the Office for the Internal Market began appointing the first members of the panel, these include:

Reports

Name Report Date Citation
Overview of the UK Internal Market Report 22 March 2022 [17]
OIM Annual Report on the Operation of the Internal_Market 2022-23 21 March 2023
OIM Periodic Report 2023 21 March 2023

Requests to the OIM

On 8 August 2022 the UK Government asked the Office for the market to examine how a ban of peat in England would affect the UK internal market[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "CMA: Office for the Internal Market launched to monitor UK internal market". Solicitors Journal. September 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Office for the Internal Market – What is it". Carson Mcdowell. 26 October 2021.
  3. ^ Powney, Mark (September 22, 2021). "Office for The Internal Market Opens for Business". BusinessNewsWales.
  4. ^ "CMA consults on new internal market role". Mirage News. May 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Shakesby, Chloe (September 21, 2021). "Government launches new Office for Internal Market to support post-Brexit operations". Bdaily News.
  6. ^ "UK Government seeks views on new Office for Internal Market". Mirage News. June 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "The UK Internal Market Bill and the Rule of Law". Law Societies' Joint Brussels Office. Law Society of England and Wales. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  8. ^ "CMA Appoints Senior Director For The Office Of Internal Market". Competition Policy International. March 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "Next steps taken to support trade between UK nations". Mirage News. September 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Domestic Market Opens". Eminetra. September 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Response to the Competition and Markets Authority Draft Guidance for the Office for the Internal Market" (PDF). Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2021.
  12. ^ "Appointments". The Economist. September 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "Business Secretary appoints first Chair of Office for Internal Market Panel". Mirage News. April 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "Professor Suzanne Rab appointed as a panel member to the Office for the Internal Market (OIM)". Professor Suzanne Rab appointed as a panel member to the Office for the Internal Market (OIM) | Serle Court. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  15. ^ "UEA Law professor appointed to Competition and Markets Authority". November 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "UK Gov Appoints New Members to Internal Market Panel". Mirage News. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  17. ^ Sargeant, Jess (April 5, 2022). "The Office for the Internal Market's new analysis must help shape decisions". Institute for Government.
  18. ^ "OIM accepts landmark first request to examine proposed law change". Mirage News. August 8, 2022.

External links

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