Business Diary: UK Regulations - May 2014
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: Amended regulations giving port officials the authority to clamp down on suspected illegal waste shipments enter into force from 1 May 2014.
Start Date: 1st May 2014
Regulator Services
Safety Services: The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched a series of template risk models for the aviation industry.
Published Date: 28th April 2014
Court Rulings
EU Ruling: Member States can monitor whether electronic communications firms are complying with consumer law, the EU Court of Justice rules.
Ruling Date: 30th April 2014
Compliance Guidance
Property Guide: The Committee of Advertising Practice publishes new guidance on the advertisement of new build homes.
Published Date: 1st May 2014
2nd
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: The Cabinet Office has published updated guidance on transposing the 2014 EU Procurement Directives into UK Law.
Published Date: 1st May 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Gambling Commission publishes changes to the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice, effective from August 2014.
Published Date: 1st May 2014
4th
Regulator Services
Internet Services: Amendments to Nominet's registration policy to tackle criminal activity for .uk domain names enter into force from 4 May 2014.
Start Date: 4th May 2014
6th
Regulator Services
Employment Services: Acas' Early Conciliation service will become mandatory from 6 May 2014.
Start Date: 6th May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: The UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum publishes new guidance for SMEs on authorisation under the EU’s REACH Regulation.
Published Date: 29th April 2014
Legal Statistics
Crackdown Statistics: The Police IP Crime Unit has suspended more than 2,500 websites selling counterfeit goods since its launch in 2013.
Published Date: 28th April 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Commission issues a proposal to expand the list of sectors in its emissions market that should be protected from carbon leakage.
Published Date: 6th May 2014
7th
Regulator Services
Regulator Activity: The Digital Trading Standards Group and JICWEBS have awarded nine companies the first ever online brand safety kitemarks.
Published Date: 1st May 2014
9th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: HSE launches a consultation on proposed new regulations implementing EU COMAH requirements.
Response Deadline: 27th June 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Council adopts new regulations enabling a more effective response to illegal activity carried out by EU trading partners.
Published Date: 8th May 2014
Crackdowns & Amnesty
Industry Crackdown: The UK Government will inspect factories exporting cheese to China following an import ban on British cheese.
Published Date: 9th May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Industry Guide: The Food Standards Agency has published new guidance on good hygiene practice for spirit drinks producers.
Published Date: 9th May 2014
13th
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a law firm was "entitled" to impose a mandatory retirement age of 65.
Ruling Date: 13th May 2014
Legal Statistics
Enforcement Data: According to ViaSat, the number of data breaches reported to the ICO rose 11%, while the number of fines imposed fell 53% in 2013.
Published Date: 1st May 2014
Court Rulings
EU Ruling: The EU Commission rules that two manufacturers seeking to enforce SEPs through litigation were in breach of EU antitrust rules.
Ruling Date: 29th April 2014
14th
Regulator Services
Internet Services: Nominet has announced that .cymru and .wales domain suffixes will be introduced in September 2014.
Published Date: 12th May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Health and Safety Event: HSE will be hosting an event on worker safety in the construction industry.
Event Date: 14th May 2014
Business Laws
Pensions Regulation: Legislation making provision for reforms to state and workplace pensions came into effect on 14 May 2014.
Start Date: 14th May 2014
Legal Statistics
Fraud Statistics: According to Pinsent Masons, fraud prosecutions fell from 11,261 in 2011 to 9,700 in 2013, while the number of cases reported doubled.
Published Date: 12th May 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: EU Ministers have backed a new Directive requiring property developers to ensure that all new and existing buildings are broadband-ready.
Published Date: 14th May 2014
15th
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Court of Appeal rules that a retailer was not entitled to reclaim rent for the period after it exercised a break clause.
Ruling Date: 14th May 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: Legislation enhancing consumer protection in regard to remote gambling services has received Royal Assent.
Published Date: 15th May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Industry Guide: The Government announces a number of changes to the way guidance will be administered for childcare businesses.
Published Date: 15th May 2014
16th
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Employment Appeal Tribunal rules that the director of a failed businesses was entitled to a redundancy award as an 'employee'.
Ruling Date: 9th May 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Government has announced that new food quantity labelling requirements will come into force from December 2014.
Published Date: 16th May 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Council has adopted a regulation making amendments to the rules for shipments of waste.
Published Date: 6th May 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Government has announced that the new Intellectual Property Act has received Royal Assent and will come into force in October 2014.
Published Date: 14th May 2014
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: The Government announces new measures which will increase the maximum fine for hiring illegal workers to £20,000 per employee.
Published Date: 16th May 2014
19th
Compliance Guidance
Marketing Guide: The Direct Marketing Association issues clarifications on the rules in regard to consumer consent to third party marketing.
Published Date: 19th May 2014
Court Rulings
EU Ruling: The EU Court of Justice rules that search engines are “data collectors” and therefore liable to remove unwanted links if requested.
Ruling Date: 13th May 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Government has introduced new legislation which will give businesses the freedom to switch water suppliers from 2017.
Published Date: 15th May 2014
20th
Business Laws
New Regulation: DEFRA announces plans to allow greater flexibility over the types of documents that can be used as an alternative to WTNs.
Published Date: 16th May 2014
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Court of Appeal has ruled that companies whose property is damaged in riots can recover "consequential" business losses.
Ruling Date: 20th May 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: A new Order has been published, confirming that land and property registration reforms will take effect from December 2014.
Published Date: 14th May 2014
21st
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The EAT rules that employees who were required to relocate were not exempt from legal protection under pre-2014 rules.
Published Date: 16th May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Compliance Guide: ICO has launched a consultation on its revised CoP on data protection obligations in regard to surveillance systems.
Published Date: 20th May 2014
Business Laws
Regulation Update: The Government has announced that it will expand the "experimental use" exemption for trials of innovative drugs.
Published Date: 6th May 2014
22nd
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Supreme Court has ruled that partners in law and accounting firms can claim whistle-blower status.
Ruling Date: 21st May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Employment Guide: The Home Office publishes new guidance on the civil penalty scheme for employers recruiting illegal workers.
Published Date: 16th May 2014
23rd
Business Laws
New Regulation: New legislation making provision for a series of reforms to the UK immigration system has received Royal Assent.
Published Date: 14th May 2014
Court Rulings
EU Ruling: The EU Court of Justice rules that holiday pay must include commission where an employee’s salary includes commission.
Ruling Date: 22nd May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Export Guide: The Export Control Organisation updates the list of ‘controlled’ military and dual-use items that require export licences.
Published Date: 22nd May 2014
27th
Legal Statistics
Crackdown Statistics: According to Pinsent Masons, HSE carried out 4,097 tip-off based inspections in the year to 31 March 2014.
Published Date: 22nd May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Food Guide: DEFRA publishes updated guidance on registering food and drink products under the EU Protected Food Name scheme.
Published Date: 23rd May 2014
Compliance Guidance
Waste Guide: WRAP and the UN have published new guidance on the prevention and reduction of food waste in businesses and homes.
Published Date: 23rd May 2014
28th
Compliance Guidance
Insolvency Guide: The Insolvency Service has published new guidance on how to complain about the conduct of an insolvency practitioner (IP).
Published Date: 16th May 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Commission has adopted new rules to facilitate the granting of state aid in support of R&D and innovation.
Published Date: 21st May 2014
29th
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Outcome: The Government publishes the outcome of the consultation on the revocation of three sets of MSHS regulations.
Published Date: 19th May 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Scottish Parliament has approved a 5p levy on single-use carrier bags, which will come into effect from October 2014.
Published Date: 28th May 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: EU Ministers have adopted new rules making it easier for companies in cross-border claims to recover debts.
Published Date: 13th May 2014
30th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Council has backed a proposal extending the maximum time limit for bringing trade secrets infringement claims.
Published Date: 19th May 2014
Legal Statistics
Litigation Statistics: According to research by Portland, 75% of litigants at the UK Commercial Court come from overseas.
Published Date: 29th May 2014
