This statutory instrument establishes the regulatory framework for merchant acquisition practices regarding credit card transactions within the United Kingdom. The document, issued by the British government, delineates the legal obligations and operational constraints imposed upon financial institutions and merchants to ensure fair competition and consumer protection within the payment processing sector. It serves as a foundational legal text for understanding the historical oversight of credit card merchant services in the early 1990s.

Legal professionals and financial historians utilize this order as a primary source for tracking the evolution of UK payment regulation. Experts note that the text is highly technical and intended for regulatory compliance rather than general readership.