Title and introductory text
2025 No. 921
COMPETITION
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Definition of Newspaper) Order 2025
Made
23rd July 2025
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 44(11), 70G(1) and (4), and 124(2), (3) and (4) of the Enterprise Act 2002.
In accordance with section 124(6), (6A) and (11) of the Enterprise Act 2002, a draft of this Order was laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
Propose a change1 Citation, commencement and extent
(1) This Order may be cited as the Enterprise Act 2002 (Definition of Newspaper) Order 2025.
(2) This Order comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.
(3) The amendments made by this Order have effect in accordance with article 4.
(4) This Order extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Propose a change2 Amendment to section 44 of the Enterprise Act 2002
(1) Section 44 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (investigation and report by CMA) is amended as follows.
(2) For subsection (10) substitute—
(10) In this Part, “newspaper” means a publication which—
(a) consists of, or includes, news-related material which is subject to editorial control;
(b) is published on any periodic basis; and
(c) is connected with the United Kingdom.
(10A) For the purposes of subsection (10)—
(a) “news-related material” means—
(i) news or information about current affairs; or
(ii) opinion about matters relating to the news or current affairs;
(b) news-related material contained in a publication is subject to editorial control if the publisher of the publication has editorial or equivalent responsibility for—
(i) the content of the material (which may include commissioning it);
(ii) how the material is presented; and
(iii) the decision to first publish the material;
(c) a publication is not to be treated as consisting of, or including, news-related material if the news-related material contained in the publication—
(i) is included only incidentally to the main content of the publication; or
(ii) relates wholly to a particular pastime, hobby, trade, business, industry or profession;
(d) “publication” means a publication which is—
(i) online; or
(ii) in hard copy,
and references to “publish” or a “publisher” are to be construed accordingly;
(e) a reference to a publication being published on any periodic basis includes, in relation to an online publication, a reference to it being updated on any periodic or other recurring basis;
(f) a publication is connected with the United Kingdom if—
(i) the majority of its readership is in the United Kingdom;
(ii) the majority of editorial decisions about the publication are taken in the United Kingdom; or
(iii) the registered or principal office of the publisher of the publication is in the United Kingdom.
.
Propose a change3 Amendment to section 70F of the Enterprise Act 2002
In section 70F of the Enterprise Act 2002 (other interpretation), omit subsection (1).
Propose a change4 Partial retrospective effect and savings provision
(1) The amendments made by article 2, so far as those amendments have effect for the purposes of Chapter 3A of Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002, and by article 3 apply in relation to—
(a) enterprises ceasing to be distinct on or after 15th May 2025, but not in relation to enterprises ceasing to be distinct before that date;
(b) arrangements in progress or in contemplation on or after 15th May 2025 which, if carried into effect, might result in the creation of a foreign state newspaper merger situation by virtue of enterprises ceasing to be distinct on or after that date.
(2) For all other purposes, the amendments made by article 2 apply in relation to—
(a) enterprises ceasing to be distinct on or after the date on which this Order comes into force, but not in relation to enterprises ceasing to be distinct before that date;
(b) arrangements in progress or in contemplation on or after the date on which this Order comes into force which, if carried into effect, might result in enterprises ceasing to be distinct on or after that date.
Propose a change