Regulatory Institutions and Procedures

Abstract

The definitions of business practices which appear in European Union and United Kingdom legislation are framed in very general terms. Application of the legislation to individual cases consequently requires the exercise of discretion going far beyond that normally required of ordinary courts of law. The legislation accordingly made provision for the creation of special institutions which were given the duty to exercise such discretion within prescribed limits and according to stated procedures. Since the legislation was first introduced, those regulatory institutions have developed further procedures and practices of their own, and have at times assumed roles which were not specifically catered for in the legislation. This chapter concentrates upon those aspects of law and practice which appear significantly to affect the conduct of the business of the regulatory authorities.