Government launches new Office for Internal Market to support post-Brexit operations

The government has today launched a new office to support the operation of the UK internal market following Brexit.

The Office for the Internal Market (OIM) is part of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and has created a new digital reporting service for businesses to share their experiences.

The office has been created following the UK’s departure from the European Union, with the information gained through the reporting service to be used in the country’s first State of the UK Internal Market in spring 2022.

Examples of what the office will be looking at include scenarios where producers from one part of the UK are paying more to meet product standards in other areas, or difficulties in the use of professional qualifications not awarded across all four of the UK’s nations.

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive at the CMA, said: “The Office for the Internal Market will shine a light on how effectively companies are able to sell their products and services to people across the four nations, post-Brexit.

“Strong competition relies on effective trading, and customers rely on competition to get the best choice of products and services.

“The OIM will listen to concerns and report to all governments on the barriers faced by businesses. Its reporting and advice rely on hearing from those who are directly affected, which is why we need people to tell the OIM about any relevant trading issues that they encounter.”