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Variation of market investigation reference for supply of bulk liquefied petroleum gas for domestic use

20 October 2004

On 5 July 2004 the OFT made a market investigation reference to the Competition Commission for an investigation into the supply of domestic bulk LPG.  The terms of reference defined 'LPG', 'domestic' and 'bulk'.

Following the reference the OFT received a number of representations from businesses operating in the market. The representations took issue with the OFT's definition in the reference of 'domestic' as meaning, 'supplied for use by households as well as for use by businesses whose consumption of LPG by volume is similar to that of households', on the basis that this definition of 'domestic' was broader than was set out in the OFT's earlier document consulting on a possible reference.

Having considered the representations and having consulted with the CC and businesses operating in the market, the OFT is satisfied that it is appropriate to vary the reference under the Enterprise Act 2002. The reference is therefore varied as follows:

• in paragraph 1 of the reference the words 'domestic bulk LPG' are replaced by 'bulk LPG for domestic use'
• in paragraph 3 of the reference the second bullet point, defining 'domestic', is omitted.

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