Subsidy control

Subsidy control has replaced state aid from 1 January 2021

After the UK left the EU on 31 December 2020, the EU’s State Aid regulations which provided rules on what could give an 'unlawful advantage' were replaced on 1 January 2021 with the UK’s international subsidy control commitment.

Our funding is public money. It cannot be used to give organisations an unfair advantage over others - this would be against the law.

From 1 January 2021, as a result of Brexit and the end of the transition period for leaving the EU, the EU State Aid regulations no longer apply to our funding. Instead, the UK’s new international subsidy control commitments provide rules on when our funding could give an unlawful advantage.

We have to follow these new rules and processes.

Read more about the UK’s international subsidy control commitment from 1 January 2021.

State aid

State aid is still relevant, however, for some grants awarded before 31 December 2020, and in Northern Ireland.

UK state aid guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/state-aid.