On 1 June 2018, there was published in the Official Journal of the EU:

• European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) decision 2018/795 of 22 May 2018 to temporarily prohibit the marketing, distribution or sale of binary options to retail clients in the Union in accordance with Article 40 of Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council; and
• ESMA decision 2018/796 of 22 May 2018 to temporarily restrict contracts for differences in the Union in accordance with Article 40 of Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

On 1 June 2018, ESMA issued a press release stating that it had formally adopted new measures on the provision of contracts for differences and binary options to retail investors. ESMA states that the measures will apply from 2 July 2018 for binary options and from 1 August 2018 for contracts for differences. The measures remain in force for a period of three months from the date of application.

ESMA has also published Q&As on the temporary product intervention measures.