Business Diary: UK Regulations - April 2013
Currently, two to three new Regulation entries are added to the Archive each day. Regulation Watch covers business related topics such as new legislation, changes in legislation, consultations and regulatory body announcements.
1st
Rates & Reliefs
Ofgem updates guidance for renewable energy developers to include new RO subsidy levels for 2013-17.
Published Date: 1st April 2013
Business Laws
Tenancy deposit schemes have been introduced for the protection of Northern Ireland tenants paying rent to private landlords.
Start Date: 1st April 2013
Crackdowns & Amnesty
The Claims Management Regulator has banned inducement advertising by CMCs as part of an industry wide crackdown.
Start Date: 1st April 2013
Rates & Reliefs
New Rates: The maximum amount of money that can be pursued through the Small Claims Court has increased from £5,000 to £10,000.
Start Date: 1st April 2013
EU Laws
The EU adopts new rules requiring all member states to provide ADR bodies for all business sectors.
Implementation Deadline: 1st April 2013
EU Laws
The EU Parliament approves a new framework through which online traders can resolve cross-border contractual disputes with consumers.
Implementation Deadline: 1st April 2013
Regulation Consultations
Consultation on amending UK law to reflect the decision to temporarily exempt non-EU flights from the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Response Deadline: 1st April 2013
Business Laws
Fraud victims will be told to contact the Home Office agency Action Fraud rather than their local police force.
Implementation Deadline: 1st April 2013
2nd
Crackdowns & Amnesty
UK firms and executives have been fined over £1billion by regulatory bodies for fraudulent activity since 2007.
Published Date: 2nd April 2013
Regulator Services
The Intellectual Property Office will implement the final phase of changes to their online trade mark services.
Implementation Deadline: 2nd April 2013
Compliance Guidance
Businesses may provide details of their purpose in collecting personal data via links in online policies according to the EU privacy watchdog.
Published Date: 2nd April 2013
6th
Business Laws
New Regulation: The current minimum consultation period for large-scale redundancies will be reduced from 90 to 45 days, effective 6 April 2013.
Start Date: 6th April 2013
Business Laws
New regulations will replace current legislation on registration of security interests created by UK companies over their assets.
Implementation Deadline: 6th April 2013
Business Laws
Regulations to increase planning application fees in Scotland by 20%.
Implementation Deadline: 6th April 2013
Compliance Guidance
ACAS has published new guidelines for employers on how to manage collective redundancies.
Published Date: 6th April 2013
Business Laws
HSE reforms a number of health and safety laws to help make the legislative framework simpler and clearer for employers.
Start Date: 6th April 2013
Business Laws
Immigration rules have been relaxed for overseas students and businesses.
Start Date: 6th April 2013
Business Laws
New rules to ban excessive charges for consumers using debit or credit cards to buy goods and services.
Implementation Deadline: 6th April 2013
Business Laws
HSE will introduce new health and safety legislation to protect employees working on offshore installations.
Implementation Deadline: 6th April 2013
Business Laws
The Home Office announces changes to immigration rules for non EU workers coming into the UK.
Implementation Deadline: 6th April 2013
8th
Regulation Consultations
Consultation on a revision to EU legislation on emissions from engines used in non-road machinery.
Response Deadline: 8th April 2013
Business Laws
DECC has released a document setting out initial governance arrangements for the Smart Energy Code.
Published Date: 8th April 2013
Business Laws
Retailers in Northern Ireland are required to charge consumers 5p for single use carrier bags from April 2013.
Start Date: 8th April 2013
Regulation Consultations
Consultation on selecting an organisational standard for cyber risk management.
Submission Deadline: 8th April 2013
9th
Compliance Guidance
Companies using personal data in big data projects 'almost always' require individuals' consent, according to the EU privacy watchdog.
Published Date: 9th April 2013
Regulation Consultations
Consultation on proposals to increase the level of charge and introduce a new Approved Route incentives scheme for carriers.
Response Deadline: 9th April 2013
Regulation Consultations
Consultation on a code of practice to accompany new legislation on settlement agreements. [PDF]
Response Deadline: 9th April 2013
10th
Compliance Guidance
EHRC has released new guidelines for employers on managing and supporting employees affected by domestic abuse.
Published Date: 10th April 2013
Regulation Consultations
Consultation on improving current legislation and introducing a new action plan on organic farming.
Response Deadline: 10th April 2013
11th
Compliance Guidance
BIS has updated the consolidated list of ‘controlled’ military and dual-use items that require an export licence.
Published Date: 11th April 2013
Court Rulings
An EU Court ruling limits legal costs in environmental cases, making it easier for individuals and companies to seek green Judicial Reviews.
Ruling Date: 11th April 2013
Regulation Consultations
Government consultation on amendments to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulation 2006.
Response Deadline: 11th April 2013
12th
Court Rulings
The High Court has ruled that courts can calculate trade mark infringement damages based on a hypothetical 'user principle' licensing arrangement
Ruling Date: 12th April 2013
17th
Court Rulings
The UK Supreme Court rules that temporary copies made by computers to allow copyrighted material to be viewed online are not illegal.
Ruling Date: 17th April 2013
Regulation Consultations
Consultation on an EU initiative to remove barriers to and simplify rules affecting the internal market for manufactured goods.
Response Deadline: 17th April 2013
18th
Court Rulings
A ruling by the EU Court of Justice provides guidance on when legal disputes can be said to be about a contractual or non-contractual issue.
Ruling Date: 18th April 2013
19th
Compliance Guidance
BIS publishes the latest ECO bulletin on compliance obligations, international policies, sanctions and export licensing services updates.
Published Date: 19th April 2013
23rd
Court Rulings
The Court of Appeal rules that rent paid in advance is not a deposit that landlords or letting agents are required to place on protection.
Ruling Date: 23rd April 2013
24th
Regulation Consultations
The Government has published its response to the consultation on the Energy Supply Administration (Scotland) Rules.
Published Date: 24th April 2013
Crackdowns & Amnesty
The ICO has issued more than double the number of data breach fines in 2012-13 than it did in 2011-12.
Published Date: 24th April 2013
25th
Court Rulings
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that employers have no duty to consult with employees unaffected by a TUPE transfer.
Ruling Date: 25th April 2013
29th
Compliance Guidance
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) publishes new guidance for Section 106 affordable housing requirements. [PDF]
Published Date: 29th April 2013
30th
Business Laws
New amendments to the Companies Act 2006 make it easier for companies with employee ownership to buy back shares when an employee leaves.
Start Date: 30th April 2013
