Business Diary: UK Regulations - June 2016
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
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Commission has announced plans to update its standardisation system, with the services and ICT sectors identified as priority areas.
Published Date: 1st June 2016
2nd
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: The EU Commission has issued new guidance warning that that banning or restricting the operation of digital platforms that help facilitate the sharing economy could be in breach of EU law.
Published Date: 2nd June 2016
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The High Court has refused to grant a declaration that a company had entered into a binding contract in relation to the supply of bulk concrete 'clinker' on the grounds that it would deny the arbitral tribunal the power to rule on its own jurisdiction.
Ruling Date: 2nd June 2016
6th
Regulation Consultations
Advertising Consultation: The Advertising Standards Authority is calling for evidence on gender stereotyping in advertisements and the impact of such ads.
Response Deadline: 30th June 2016
Compliance Guidance
Legal Guide: The Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications has released draft guidance on how the new EU net neutrality rules should be implemented by telecoms regulators.
Published Date: 6th June 2016
8th
Compliance Guidance
Legal Guide: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has published new statutory guidance on how it will use its newly granted civil enforcement powers against those that have breached environmental permits.
Published Date: 8th June 2016
9th
Business Laws
Regulator Activity: The Competition and Markets Authority has warned businesses not to impose online sales bans after issuing a statement of objections to practices employed by a major golf equipment manufacturer.
Published Date: 9th June 2016
EU Laws
EU Regulation: New EU legislation aimed at increasing the transparency of the costs of payments made via debit or credit cards for retailers and consumers entered into force on 9 June 2016.
Start Date: 9th June 2016
Legal Statistics
Law Statistics: The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) received 123 applications for hearings involving practising solicitors, up 16% from 2014, according to the SDT's annual report.
Published Date: 9th June 2016
10th
Business Laws
Property Regulation: Tenant fees may be scrapped in England, Wales and Northern Ireland pursuant to changes to the Renters' Rights Bill proposed by Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Olly Grender.
Published Date: 10th June 2016
14th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Parliament's energy committee has approved a plan to simplify the energy efficiency labelling system for household appliances to make it even easier for consumers to compare.
Published Date: 14th June 2016
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: Stronger Together and the British Retail Consortium have released a new toolkit to help consumer goods companies crack down on modern slavery in their global supply chains.
Published Date: 14th June 2016
Legal Statistics - Risks
Law Statistics: According to a new survey from Close Brothers, 82% of UK SMEs have either not heard of the General Data Protection Regulation or are unsure of its impact.
Published Date: 14th June 2016
15th
Compliance Guidance
IP Guide: The Intellectual Property Office has published new guidance on the Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill.
Published Date: 15th June 2016
Legal Statistics
IP Statistics: Nearly two thirds (60%) of EU SMEs feel that protecting their innovations has been beneficial for their business, according to the EU Intellectual property Office's IP SME Scoreboard 2016.
Published Date: 15th June 2016
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Scottish Court of Session has ruled that the fact that a tripping accident has occurred does not nceccesarily mean that flooring constitutes a health and safety risk.
Ruling Date: 15th June 2016
16th
EU Laws
Regulator Activity: The European Parliament and the Dutch Presidency of the Council have informally agreed on draft legislation aimed at providing a comprehensive, integrated and more effective control system in the areas of food and feed safety rules, veterinary and plant health requirements, organic production and protected geographical indication rules.
Published Date: 16th June 2016
Court Rulings
EU Ruling: A medical device which has undergone conformity assessment in accordance with EU legislation does not require a new or supplementary conformity assessment prior to importing into EU member states under a translated label, according to an opinion issued by the Advocate General of the EU Court of Justice.
Ruling Date: 16th June 2016
17th
Legal Statistics
Litigation Statistics: The number of misconduct complaints made against solicitors to the Solicitors Regulation Authority by other legal professionals rose to 2,516 in 2015, compared with 1,852 in 2011.
Published Date: 17th June 2016
Regulator Services
Licensing Services: The Export Control Organisation has updated the Open General Trade Control Licence for maritime anti-piracy services.
Published Date: 17th June 2016
Business Laws
New Regulation: Research from the CIPD says that two-thirds of employers are either opposed to the apprenticeship levy or are unsure where they stand on the issue.
Published Date: 17th June 2016
EU Laws
EU Regulation: New EU statutory audit rules which aimed to promote high-quality audits and enhance investor trust in the financial information of companies came into effect on 17 June 2016.
Published Date: 17th June 2016
20th
Legal Statistics
Law Statistics: A new study from Geniac reveals that on average start-ups invest £22,756 in their first year to cover administrative costs including accountancy, company formation, HR and legal services, and those thinking of starting a business underestimate these costs by £2,525.
Published Date: 20th June 2016
21st
Regulator Services
New Scheme: The British Safety Industry Federation has relaunched the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme and strengthened the terms of membership with the aim of ensuring that non-performing non-compliant Personal Protective Equipment is eradicated from the UK market.
Start Date: 21st June 2016
22nd
Regulator Services
Legal Services: The Law Superstore, which will be the UK’s first true legal comparison website, has reached 150 ‘partner’ firms ahead of its launch on 1 August 2016.
Published Date: 22nd June 2016
23rd
Court Rulings
EU Regulation: The CJEU has ruled that imposing a requirement on parties to cross-border contracts to draw up invoices in a particular language is a disproportionate restriction on free movement of goods within the EU.
Published Date: 23rd June 2016
Compliance Guidance
Compliance Deadline: The Export Control Organisation (ECO) has amended and republished two Open General Export Licences (OGELs). The main change is that Kuwait has been added to the list of permitted destinations for the export of military goods for the maintenance of Typhoon aircraft.
Implementation Deadline: 23rd June 2016
28th
Court Rulings
Tribunal Ruling: The Employment Appeal Tribunal has confirmed in a recent ruling that the privilege afforded to protected conversations under UK employment law cannot be waived and extends not only to the content of protected conversations, but also to the fact of the conversations taking place.
Ruling Date: 28th June 2016
Legal Statistics - Risks
Law Statistics: Over half (52%) of law firms found it more difficult to source skilled professionals over the past 12 months, according to a new survey from Clayton Legal.
Published Date: 28th June 2016
Regulation Consultations
EU Consultation: The EU Commission has launched a consultation on the market surveillance provisions of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 and on measures to enhance enforcement and compliance in the Single Market for goods.
Response Deadline: 31st October 2016
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: A recent High Court ruling highlights that rights holders that fail to clearly specify the scope of their trademarks risk those marks being revoked by the courts.
Ruling Date: 28th June 2016
29th
Regulator Services
Filing Services: Companies House will suspend same day processing on 29 June 2016, resuming on 1 July 2016, as it makes changes to its systems in preparation for the implementation of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act.
Event Dates: 29th June 2016-1st July 2016
30th
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network has published new guidance for digital influencers on online reviews and endorsements.
Published Date: 30th June 2016
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: Companies House has amended its fee structure, which will apply from 30 June 2016.
Start Date: 30th June 2016
Legal Statistics
Data Breach Statistics: The number of data protection incidents self-reported by organisations reached 1,954 in 2015/16, up 17% from 2014/15, according to the Information Commissioner's Office's annual report.
Published Date: 30th June 2016
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: A North London construction firm has been hit with a £550,000 fine for corporate manslaughter offences, in the first sentencing since a new sentencing guideline for serious breaches of health and safety law was introduced in February 2016.
Published Date: 30th June 2016
Legal Statistics
Law Statistics: An estimated 20 million people are now able to request flexible working, since the right to do so was extended to all workers from 30 June 2014, the government has announced.
Published Date: 30th June 2016
