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
Business Laws
New Regulation: New and amended rules for crowdfunding platforms will come into force from 1 April 2014.
Start Date: 1st April 2014
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Ministry of Justice consults on a proposed financial penalties scheme for claims management companies.
Published Date: 31st March 2014
Business Laws
New Regulations: The Government has announced five draft statutory instruments making amendments to UK copyright law.
Published Date: 28th March 2014
Regulator Services
Registration Services: Phonepayplus will introduce a revised levy and registration scheme fee from 1 April 2014.
Start Date: 1st April 2014
Regulator Services
Regulatory Activity: The CMA will take over the powers of the Office of Fair Trading and Competition Commission from 1 April 2014.
Start Date: 1st April 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: An amended rule rescinding the 24-month time limit for filing EU divisional patents comes into effect from 1 April 2014.
Start Date: 1st April 2014
Business Laws
Regulation Update: Reforms to the flexible working regime will come into effect from the end of June 2014.
Published Date: 1st April 2014
2nd
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: HSE consults on replacing the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and revoking the Approved Code of Practice.
Published Date: 31st March 2014
Legal Statistics
Legal Survey: According to Norton Rose Fulbright, 76% of employers are not prepared for the upcoming shared parental leave and pay changes.
Published Date: 1st April 2014
3rd
Crackdowns & Amnesty
IP Crackdown: London Police have launched a new database to provide firms with information on sites illegally hosting copyrighted content.
Start Date: 3rd April 2014
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: DEFRA consults on implementing new marketing standards and labelling requirements for fishery and aquaculture products.
Published Date: 31st March 2014
4th
Compliance Guidance
IP Guide: The Intellectual Property Office has updated the Code of Practice for patent applicants and agents.
Published Date: 1st April 2014
Regulation Consultations
Regulator Consultation: HSE consults on proposals to amend the approved codes of practice on the safe use of power presses and woodworking machinery.
Published Date: 31st March 2014
5th
Regulatory Deadlines
Implementation Deadline: All workplaces will be required to display the latest Health and Safety Law poster by 5 April 2014.
Implementation Deadline: 5th April 2014
6th
Business Laws
New Regulation: CRAR will revoke and replace the current legislation on Distress from 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: Increases to the fees for immigration services came into effect from 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: Regulations banning firms from blacklisting workers on the basis of trade union membership came into force on 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Crackdowns & Amnesty
Industry Crackdown: New regulations aiming to clamp down on bailiffs using aggressive tactics have entered into force.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: New legislation extending Primary Authority to cover fire safety and age-restricted sales of alcohol enters into force from 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: The statutory discrimination questionnaire procedure will be abolished from April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: The fees to issue certain claims which can be made to an Employment Tribunal will increase from 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: Acas will launch its initially optional Early Conciliation service on 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: New rules exempting shop-to-home conversions from the need for planning permission will come into force from 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: Tribunals will have the power to impose financial penalties on employers found to be in breach of employment law from April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: From 6 April 2014, the rate of maternity, paternity and adoption pay will increase from £136.78 to £138.18 per week.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: Changes to the limits for unfair dismissal and redundancy payments will come into force from 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: The Insolvency Service has announced that the fees paid during insolvency procedures will increase from 6 April 2014.
Start Date: 6th April 2014
7th
Regulator Services
Licensing Services: The Security Industry Authority is no longer accepting paper-based licence applications, effective 7 April 2014.
Start Date: 7th April 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Parliament has voted to end roaming charges by December 2015 as part of a package of telecoms market reforms.
Published Date: 3rd April 2014
Business Laws
Regulatory Activity: A new planning court designed to reduce delays to major construction projects has come into operation.
Start Date: 7th April 2014
8th
Court Rulings
EU Ruling: The EU Court of Justice has overruled a directive requiring telecoms companies to store the data of EU citizens for up to two years.
Ruling Date: 8th April 2014
9th
Crackdowns & Amnesty
Waste Crackdown: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has announced a full operational strategy for clamping down on waste crime.
Published Date: 9th April 2014
Compliance Guidance
IT Guide: BIS has published new cyber security guidance alongside a proposal for a certification scheme for businesses.
Published Date: 7th April 2014
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: The Government announces that the maximum penalty for employing illegal workers will increase from £10,000 to £20,000 in May 2014.
Published Date: 9th April 2014
10th
Compliance Guidance
Regulator Guide: The Competition and Markets Authority issues guidance on its leniency programme for businesses confessing to cartel activity.
Published Date: 31st March 2014
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Outcome: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills publishes the outcome of the call for views on corporate responsibility.
Published Date: 3rd April 2014
11th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government launches a call for evidence on allowing firms to take civil action against copycat packaging.
Published Date: 11th April 2014
14th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Commission has adopted a proposal to make it easier and less costly to set up single shareholder companies across the EU.
Published Date: 9th April 2014
Crackdowns & Amnesty
Industry Crackdown: The UK will test 150 samples of beef products as part of an EU-wide investigation into horse meat contamination.
Published Date: 14th April 2014
Compliance Guidance
Safety Guide: The Food Standards Agency has published updated guidance on food safety regulations for the UK meat industry.
Published Date: 14th April 2014
15th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Council has adopted a new Directive to improve the enforcement of EU citizens' right to work in another Member State.
Published Date: 14th April 2014
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government consults on new regulations to introduce enforcement powers in line with EU tyre labelling obligations.
Published Date: 10th April 2014
16th
Regulator Services
Regulator Activity: The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has become part of the Home Office as part of a move to crack down on illegal working.
Published Date: 9th April 2014
17th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Parliament has voted in favour of new laws cracking down on single use carrier bags.
Published Date: 16th April 2014
Regulator Services
Regulator Activity: The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has been approved by DCLG to provide a redress service to landlords and tenants.
Published Date: 15th April 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: New EU rules on public procurement and concessions have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Published Date: 28th March 2014
21st
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Outcome: The Government publishes the outcome of the consultation on a proposed registry of company ownership information.
Published Date: 21st April 2014
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Report: The Government publishes the outcome of the consultation on proposals to simplify company filing requirements.
Published Date: 21st April 2014
22nd
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: Increases to the court fees for insolvency proceedings took effect from 22 April 2014.
Start Date: 22nd April 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Parliament has approved proposed new rules for safer and more environmentally friendly lorries.
Published Date: 15th April 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Parliament has approved a new Directive harmonising antitrust and competition damages actions rules across the EU.
Published Date: 17th April 2014
Crackdowns & Amnesty
Business Crackdown: The Government has announced proposals to bring in tougher restrictions and penalties for "dodgy directors".
Published Date: 19th April 2014
23rd
Legal Statistics
Regulator Activity: The UK's legal services regulators have agreed to publish practitioner details in a ‘reusable format’.
Published Date: 9th April 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The European Parliament has voted in favour of new legislation on consumer product safety and market surveillance.
Published Date: 16th April 2014
24th
Compliance Guidance
Waste Management Guide: The EU Commission has published new guidance setting out the EU’s interpretation of the revised WEEE Directive.
Published Date: 22nd April 2014
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Department of the Environment consults on on the draft amended Waste Duty of Care – Code of Practice 2014.
Response Deadline: 30th May 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Council has adopted a draft regulation on the authorization of clinical trials.
Published Date: 14th April 2014
25th
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Court of Appeal rules that the EAT will not normally be able to resolve factual disagreements in employment cases without consent.
Ruling Date: 16th April 2014
Regulation Consultations
Regulator Consultation: The Environment Agency launches a consultation on the charges for regulating MRFs.
Published Date: 25th April 2014
28th
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The High Court rules that documents subject to LPP did not lose this status when they were sent on to a third party's work email address.
Published Date: 16th April 2014
Legal Statistics
Crackdown Statistics: Following a crackdown on travel websites in 2013, 62% are now in line with EU consumer law, according to the EU Commission.
Published Date: 14th April 2014
29th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Parliament has endorsed operating rules for the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Published Date: 16th April 2014
Compliance Guidance
New Charter: The Construction Leadership Council has agreed a new charter setting out payment terms of 30 days.
Published Date: 22nd April 2014
Legal Statistics
Law Statistics: According to a Trend Micro study, 50% of UK businesses are unaware of the upcoming changes to the EU Data Protection Regulation.
Published Date: 24th April 2014
30th
Regulation Consultations
Regulator Consultation: The EU Commission launches a consultation on barriers and issues related to mobile health solutions.
Published Date: 10th April 2014
Compliance Guidance
Food Safety Guide: The Food Standards Agency has published the revised Food Law Code of Practice for England.
Published Date: 7th April 2014
Legal Statistics
Enforcement Statistics: According to the EU Commission, OLAF opened 58% more investigations into alleged fraud in 2013 than in 2009.
Published Date: 30th April 2014
Business Diary: UK Regulations - April 2014