Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956

The Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 68) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom intended to enforce competition, and provide an appropriate check on restrictive combines and practices. It required that any agreement between companies that restricted trading should be placed on a public register unless granted exemption by the Secretary of State. Changes to an agreement, including its ending, were required to be notified and no agreement could be brought into force before appearing on the register.^[1]

Long titleAn Act to provide for the registration and judicial investigation of certain restrictive trading agreements, and for the prohibition of such agreements when found contrary to the public interest; to prohibit the collective enforcement of conditions regulating the resale price of goods, and to make further provision for the individual enforcement of such conditions by legal proceedings; to amend the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Acts, 1948[y] and 1953;[z] to provide for the appointment of additional judges of the High Court and of the Court of Session; and for other purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

Citation4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 68

Territorial extent

• England and Wales
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland^[b]

Royal assent2 August 1956

Quick facts Long title, Citation ...

Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to provide for the registration and judicial investigation of certain restrictive trading agreements, and for the prohibition of such agreements when found contrary to the public interest; to prohibit the collective enforcement of conditions regulating the resale price of goods, and to make further provision for the individual enforcement of such conditions by legal proceedings; to amend the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Acts, 1948[y] and 1953;[z] to provide for the appointment of additional judges of the High Court and of the Court of Session; and for other purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.
Citation	4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 68
Territorial extent	England and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland[b]
Dates
Royal assent	2 August 1956
Commencement	2 September 1956 (part I)[c]
Repealed	10 March 2013[d]
Other legislation
Amended by	Agricultural and Forestry Associations Act 1962 Plant Varieties and Seeds Act 1964 Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1968 Restrictive Practices Court Act 1976 Restrictive Practices Court Act 1976
Repealed by	Competition Act 1998
Relates to	Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act 1948 Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act 1953
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

Close

The registrar could refer any agreements which appeared to operate against the public interest to the Restrictive Practices Court, a senior court of record in the United Kingdom.^[2] Though the court was overhauled by the Restrictive Practices Court Act 1976 (c. 33),^[3] by the end of the century, the legislation was perceived as increasingly out of line with Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty of Rome. The court was gradually replaced by a new judicial regime under the Competition Act 1998 and Enterprise Act 2002,^[4] and was ultimately disestablished on 10 March 2013.^[5]