Business Diary: UK Regulations - August 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
Regulator Services
Property Services: The Land Registry has introduced new 0300 telephone numbers for some of their customer service helplines.
Start Date: 1st August 2014
Compliance Guidance
IP Guide: The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) has fully replaced its Manual of Trade Mark Practice with an updated set of Guidelines.
Start Date: 1st August 2014
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Court of Appeal has ruled against a business seeking to recover legal costs after the claim brought against it was dismissed.
Ruling Date: 31st July 2014
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU has adopted a proposal to introduce an additional transition period of six months during which payments which differ from the Single Euro Payments Area format can still be accepted.
Deadline: 1st August 2014
EU Laws
EU Scheme: The European Central Bank implements the SEPA for retail payments, with a 2016 deadline for UK firms and a 1 August 2014 deadline for other EU countries.
Implementation Deadline: 1st August 2014
Court Rulings
Business Ruling: Court of Appeal ruling on public bodies adhering to freedom of information requests.
Ruling Date: 31st July 2014
Court Rulings
Business Ruling: Supreme Court ruling on the interpretation of public tender documents.
Ruling Date: 30th July 2014
4th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government has launched a technical consultation on proposed reforms to the planning system.
Published Date: 31st July 2014
5th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government has launched a call for evidence on creating a regulatory framework for the development of driverless cars.
Published Date: 5th August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Immigration Guide: UK Visas and Immigration has published updated guidance on how it detects and prevents illegal working.
Published Date: 5th August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Industry Guide: The Food Standards Agency has published new guidance for SMEs on upcoming allergen labelling and information rules.
Published Date: 1st August 2014
6th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government has launched a consultation on its approach to the implementation of the Amended Batteries Directive.
Published Date: 6th August 2014
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that an incorrect document drafted by an HR consultant can still be binding on an employer.
Published Date: 16th July 2014
7th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Insolvency Service launches a consultation on increasing the bankruptcy petition limit and improving debt relief orders.
Published Date: 6th August 2014
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Government launches a consultation on proposed changes to the furniture fire safety standards regulations.
Published Date: 7th August 2014
Business Laws
New Regulation: Legislation on the minimum working and living rights for seafarers comes into force in the UK from 7 August 2014.
Start Date: 7th August 2014
11th
Regulation Consultations
IP Consultation: The Intellectual Property Office has launched a call for evidence on how patent applications are published.
Published Date: 7th August 2014
Regulator Services
Regulator Statistics: Acas has published new research on how its free online tools are helping SMEs to improve their HR policies.
Published Date: 8th August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Health and Safety Guide: HSE has published new guidance on upcoming legislation relating to working with GMOs in contained facilities.
Published Date: 7th August 2014
12th
Compliance Guidance
Health and Safety Guide: The Health and Safety Executive publishes new guidance on the regulatory approach taken by HSE and local authorities.
Published Date: 7th August 2014
Regulation Consultations
Regulator Consultation: The Gambling Commission consults on proposed changes to the social responsibility provisions in the licence conditions.
Published Date: 7th August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Environment Guide: DEFRA has updated guidance for businesses on measuring and reporting their greenhouse gas emissions.
Published Date: 11th August 2014
Legal Statistics
Compliance Statistics: According to a Skyhigh Networks, only one out of 100 cloud service providers are ready for the new EU data protection rules.
Published Date: 11th August 2014
13th
Compliance Guidance
Food Guide: DEFRA has updated guidance on registering food and drink products under the EU Protected Food Name scheme.
Published Date: 13th August 2014
14th
Legal Statistics
Compliance Statistics: According to a new survey from Sage, a third of UK SMEs are failing to comply with the new flexible working regime.
Published Date: 13th August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Export Guide: The Export Control Organisation has published an FAQ sheet on the new trade sanctions against Russia.
Published Date: 14th August 2014
15th
Business Laws
New Regulation: The Government has announced a package of measures to support entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a business from home.
Published Date: 15th August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Agriculture Guide: DEFRA has published new guidance for farmers on the new Common Agricultural Policy rules.
Published Date: 14th August 2014
18th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: EUROMAP has announced a new energy label for plastics and rubber machinery to be introduced from October 2014.
Published Date: 18th August 2014
Legal Statistics
Enforcement Statistics: According to official figures, almost 600 CMCs have closed down following the introduction of Government reforms.
Published Date: 18th August 2014
Business Laws
Industry Code: The Direct Marketing Association publishes a new CoP for the direct marketing sector, which comes into force from 18 August 2014.
Start Date: 18th August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Law Guide: The Government publishes new guidance on upcoming consumer rights regulations to tackle misleading and aggressive selling.
Published Date: 14th August 2014
20th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Commission has announced deductions from the 2014 fishing quotas of ten Member States that have overfished.
Published Date: 11th August 2014
21st
Court Rulings
Tribunal Ruling: EAT ruling on an employee's entitlement to bring a constructive dismissal claim even though a gross misconduct case was being made against them.
Ruling Date: 21st August 2014
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: HSE has launched a consultation on the revised Approved Code of Practice relating to the safe use of lifting equipment.
Published Date: 20th August 2014
22nd
Court Rulings
Tribunal Ruling: Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling on when new employers become responsible for staff transferred under TUPE rules.
Published Date: 1st August 2014
Compliance Guidance
Best Practice Guide: Government guidance on online retailers charging for rural parcel deliveries.
Published Date: 31st July 2014
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Report: Consultation report on exhaust emission standards for road vehicles.
Published Date: 20th August 2014
26th
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: BIS has launched a consultation on measures to prevent avoidance of the ban on exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts.
Published Date: 25th August 2014
Regulation Consultations
Law Consultation: The Health and Safety Executive has launched a consultation on the revised ACOP for the Confined Spaces Regulations.
Published Date: 20th August 2014
27th
Regulation Consultations
Consultation Outcome: A statement has been published on the government response to the consultation on zero hours employment contracts.
Published Date: 25th August 2014
28th
Rates & Reliefs
Rate Change: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency announces that HGV/ PSV annual test and operator licence fees will change from October 2014.
Published Date: 14th August 2014
Legal Statistics
Law Statistics: According to the Rural Payments Agency, poor record keeping cost farmers £2.33 million in reductions to SPS payments in 2013.
Published Date: 26th August 2014
Legal Statistics
Law Statistics: According to the BHA, the new EU food information regulations could cost UK businesses up to £200 million per year.
Published Date: 26th August 2014
29th
EU Laws
EU Regulation: The EU Commission has adopted a new strategy and action plan to improve customs risk management.
Published Date: 21st August 2014
Court Rulings
UK Ruling: A Scottish Court rules that the reinstatement of a dissolved tenant company does not prevent a landlord from terminating the lease.
Ruling Date: 20th August 2014
