Clifford Chance

Infant Formula Market: Competition and Markets Authority publishes interim findings

12 February 2025

This article discusses the CMA's Interim Report on its study of the UK infant formula market released on 8 November 2024. This in-depth market study was driven by concerns over pricing, competition, and the protection of consumers at a vulnerable time (i.e., when purchasing child formula recently post-partum). The Interim Report identifies several critical issues: the impact of regulations on pricing, limited competition due to high market concentration, and issues with consumer information. This article covers the report, as well as the CMA's proposed solutions, which include adjusting existing regulations and reducing the influence of branding.

This article was first published by Thomson Reuters, trading as Sweet & Maxwell, 5 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AQ, in the European Competition Law Review as "Infant Formula Market: Competition and Markets Authority publishes interim findings" in (2025) 46 E.C.L.R., Issue 2, pages N37-N39, and is reproduced by agreement with the publishers.

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