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ARTICLE · 24 JUNE 2026

Focus On Compliance: New Consumer Rules For UK Opticians

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

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The UK has introduced sweeping consumer protection laws that directly impact optical practices, with the Competition and Markets Authority now wielding unprecedented enforcement powers including fines up to 10% of global turnover.

United KingdomConsumer Protection
Jen Dinmore
Jen Dinmore
Alex Meloy
Alex Meloy
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Over the last year, the UK has seen a raft of new consumer laws and the Competition and Markets Authority starting to enforce them with multi-million-pound fines for non-compliance.

Whether you sell glasses, contact lenses or related optical products and services, these changes affect your practice directly. As providers of essential services, opticians are likely to be a high-risk sector for regulatory scrutiny. This note explains the key issues every optical practice needs to have at the top of its to-do list.

What has been happening?

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (“DMCCA”) came into force in April 2025, bringing in a range of new obligations for businesses, covering pricing practices, fake reviews and unfair commercial practices. There are also new rules on subscription contracts set to come into force in Spring 2027, which will be particularly relevant to opticians offering contact lens plans and other subscription-based services.

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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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