Business Diary: UK Regulations - June 2015
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
Rate Change: The Intellectual Property Office has announced the updated PCT fee structure, effective from 1 June 2015.
Start Date: 1st June 2015
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has published new guidance on how Trading Standards can use enhanced powers introduced under the Consumer Rights Act.
Published Date: 1st June 2015
EU Laws
EU Regulation: New rules requiring EU Member States to publish the list of beneficiaries of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments came into force on 1 June 2015.
Start Date: 1st June 2015
Business Laws
New Regulation: From 1 June 2015, waste producers will be required to comply with the government's revised guidance on the assessment and classification of hazardous waste.
Start Date: 1st June 2015
Business Laws
New Regulation: New legislation introducing stricter requirements for companies facing major industrial accidents will come into force on 1 June 2015.
Start Date: 1st June 2015
3rd
Legal Statistics - Risks
Law Statistics: According to AXA Business Insurance, 74% of SME owners fear professional mistakes, yet many are ill-equipped to deal with compensation claims from clients.
Published Date: 2nd June 2015
4th
Regulator Services
Compliance Services: HSE has launched a revised version of its e-tool to help firms comply with the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations.
Published Date: 1st June 2015
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: The Health and Safety Executive has issued revised guidance on the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations.
Published Date: 3rd June 2015
8th
Regulator Services
Licensing Services: The DVLA will abolish the paper counterpart to photocard driving licences from 8 June 2015.
Start Date: 8th June 2015
9th
Crackdowns & Amnesty
Tax Amnesty: HMRC's voluntary disclosure opportunity for solicitors with unpaid taxes and duties will come to an end on 9 June 2015.
Amnesty Deadline: 9th June 2015
10th
Legal Statistics
IP Statistics: According to the UK Intellectual Property Office, trademark applications increased by 15% in 2014 and patent applications increase by 0.5%.
Published Date: 8th June 2015
12th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government is consulting on how outcomes from CRCs can be improved for firms and employees in insolvency situations.
Response Deadline: 12th June 2015
Legal Statistics - Risks
Law Statistics: According to Shred-it, just 28% of SMEs carry out frequent information security audits despite 88% claiming that they are aware of their legal duties in respect of data protection.
Published Date: 12th June 2015
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Solicitors Regulation Authority has agreed on amendments to a rule which will make it easier for solicitors to forge links with outside businesses.
Published Date: 4th June 2015
15th
Business Laws
Regulator Activity: Ofcom has proposed price controls for products using leased BT telecoms lines which will cut prices for customers, including businesses.
Published Date: 12th June 2015
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: In a recent ruling, the Court of Appeal warned that companies persistently committing environmental crimes should expect to be hit with ‘substantial' fines for their second and subsequent offences.
Ruling Date: 3rd June 2015
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Welsh Government has announced new legislation which will ban the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces and workplaces.
Published Date: 9th June 2015
16th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Council has agreed on a general approach to the proposed new General Data Protection Regulation.
Published Date: 15th June 2015
Business Laws
New Regulation: The government has announced a new measure to give the term 'apprenticeship' legal protection and prevent misuse of the term to promote low quality courses.
Published Date: 14th June 2015
17th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The EU Commission has launched a consultation on the regulatory failures affecting the functioning of the waste management industry in the EU.
Published Date: 12th June 2015
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on a proposed strategic framework aimed at supporting and maximising the potential of the agriculture industry.
Published Date: 4th June 2015
18th
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Supreme Court has ruled that a losing party to an adjudication seeking repayment of an award made against it has six years from the date of payment to do so.
Ruling Date: 17th June 2015
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Report: The government has published a summary of responses to its consultation on giving bodies enhanced powers to tackle 'grossly unfair' contractual terms and payment practices.
Published Date: 18th June 2015
19th
Court Rulings
EU Ruling: The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that online news providers can be forced to proactively remove unlawful user comments as soon as they appear.
Ruling Date: 16th June 2015
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee has backed new draft rules aimed at helping businesses obtain legal redress for theft or misuse of trade secrets.
Published Date: 16th June 2015
22nd
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The government has launched a consultation on draft legislation implementing a central register for individuals with 'significant control' over a company.
Published Date: 19th June 2015
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Report: The Competition and Markets Authority has published the outcome of a call for evidence on the collection and use of consumer data.
Published Date: 17th June 2015
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Report: The Competition and Markets Authority has published the outcome of a call for information on the way in which online reviews and endorsements are used.
Published Date: 19th June 2015
Legal Statistics - Opportunities
IP Statistics: According to the Office for the Harmonization in the Internal Market, companies with IP rights protection typically have 29% higher revenues than those that do not.
Published Date: 19th June 2015
Legal Statistics - Risks
Law Statistics: According to Brodies, 66% of Scottish firms are at risk of missing deadlines, losing money and being caught up in expensive litigation due to poor contract management.
Published Date: 22nd June 2015
23rd
Business Laws
New Regulation: New legislation aimed at enhancing protection of the environment while reducing the regulatory burden for businesses has been introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Published Date: 22nd June 2015
Compliance Guidance
Legal Guide: The Competition and Markets Authority has published two new guidance documents to help businesses comply with consumer protection law regarding the use of online reviews and endorsements.
Published Date: 19th June 2015
Crackdowns & Amnesty
Regulator Crackdown: The Insolvency Service has banned five directors of restaurant businesses from running companies as part of a campaign to tackle the employment of illegal workers.
Published Date: 22nd June 2015
24th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The UK government has launched a consultation on the implementation of new EU rules aimed at facilitating switching of current accounts.
Published Date: 23rd June 2015
EU Laws
EU Regulation: MEPs and the Latvian Presidency of the Council have reached an informal agreement on draft legislation which would raise the threshold for the European Small Claims Procedure from EUR 2000 to EUR 5000.
Published Date: 23rd June 2015
25th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The European Patent Office has adopted a proposal for a business-friendly renewal fee pattern for the unitary patent.
Published Date: 24th June 2015
Legal Statistics - Risks
IP Statistics: According to RPC, the number of intellectual property disputes being heard by the European Court of Justice rose to 69 in 2014, up from 43 in 2013.
Published Date: 22nd June 2015
Regulation Consultations
Payment Regulations: The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has asked industry to help it deepen its understanding of the way card payment systems operate.
Published Date: 25th June 2015
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: A Court of Appeal ruling has offered clarification in regard to the way numerical ranges used to limit the scope of a patent claim should be interpreted
Ruling Date: 24th June 2015
Regulator Services
Data Services: Companies House has made all public digital data held on the UK register of companies accessible without charge via its new public beta search service.
Published Date: 25th June 2015
Legal Statistics - Risks
Law Statistics: According to Experian, mid-sized and large firms could face up to £20 billion of fines for data breaches when the EU data protection rules come into force.
Published Date: 25th June 2015
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The Environment Committee has endorsed draft plans for a new simplified authorisation procedure for novel foods.
Published Date: 25th June 2015
26th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: Reforms to legislation aimed at tackling money laundering in the EU will come into effect on 26 June 2015.
Start Date: 26th June 2015
28th
Compliance Guidance
Legal Guide: Acas has published new guidance on the recently introduced leave rights for antenatal and adoption appointments.
Published Date: 28th June 2015
29th
EU Laws
Medical device manufacturers will be subject to stiffer safety and performance rules, under new proposals backed by EU ministers.
Published Date: 29th June 2015
Business Laws
Regulator Activity: The British Frozen Food Federation has said that the EU Commission is now allowing the date of freezing of meat products to be included on labels as opposed to the date of freezing of the protein used.
Published Date: 29th June 2015
30th
Business Laws
Legal Alert: The UK government is urging businesses to check their contracts and seek legal advice as necessary following the introduction of temporary capital control measures in Greece.
Published Date: 29th June 2015
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The Latvian presidency and the EU Parliament have reached a deal on new legislation which will abolish mobile phone roaming fees and safeguard open internet access.
Published Date: 30th June 2015
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Council has postponed the suspension of restrictive measures against Iran until 7 July 2015.
Published Date: 30th June 2015
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government is consulting on whether protections for small and micro firms when purchasing goods and services are sufficient.
Response Deadline: 30th June 2015
