The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was a government department in the United Kingdom responsible for promoting fair trading and protecting consumer interests. Established in 1973, its main functions included enforcing competition law, investigating unfair trading practices, and providing guidance to businesses and consumers about their rights and responsibilities. In 2014, the OFT was merged with the Competition Commission to form the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). This new organization continues the work of the OFT, focusing on ensuring that markets operate fairly and that consumers are protected from unfair practices in the marketplace.