The CCPC’s First Use Of Its Call In Power

On 20 March 2026, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (“CCPC”) called in for its merger review the acquisition of TouchStore Limited (“TouchStore”), a Limerick-based developer and provider of dispensing and retail software to the pharmacy sector, by the Irish healthcare services provider, Uniphar plc (“Uniphar”). The transaction fell below the turnover thresholds for a mandatory merger control notification to the CCPC, however, the CCPC can require the mandatory notification of below-threshold transactions that may, in its opinion, “have an effect on competition in markets for goods or services in the State”.

This marks the CCPC’s first use of its ‘call-in’ power since it was introduced in 2022. Notwithstanding this is the first transaction to be formally called in, it is not surprising.  The CCPC has been actively monitoring the market for transactions, including issuing informal and formal correspondence in relation to identified transactions in the context of