This guide describes the many functions of the Office and the objectives they are designed to achieve. Further details of the legislation and processes the Office works to can be found in OFT publications . Contact points for different areas of the work of the Office are also available on this web site. The structure of the Office's Competition Policy Division has changed radically over the last few months in preparation for the implementation of new competition legislation, the Competition Act 1998. Details of this restructuring including, names, contact points and branch responsibilities can be found on this page .
Competition is an essential element in the efficient working of markets for goods and services.
The purpose of the Competition Policy Division is to promote effective competition in these markets and thereby further the economic interests of consumers and the efficiency of business. The work of the Division spreads the benefits of competition by encouraging and improving the competitive process. Competition law provides the means by which the Division puts its purpose into practice. The Restrictive Trade Practices Act, the Resale Prices Act and most of the Competition Act 1980 were recently replaced by the Competition Act 1998, the main provisions of which came into force on 1 March 2000. The Competition Act 1998 prohibits anti-competitive agreements and practices and the abuse of a dominant market position.