LexBlog (LexBlog United Kingdom)

10292 results for LexBlog (LexBlog United Kingdom)

  • FCA updates its webpage on fund tokenisation

    On 27 March 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) updated its webpage on fund tokenisation to add information on the Technology Working Group’s phase 2 report, published on 26 March 2024. The FCA and HM Treasury are observers on the industry-led Group, which is considering the implementation of fund tokenisation in the UK. The FCA...

  • Technology Working Group publishes second report on fund tokenisation

    On 26 March 2024, the Technology Working Group – an industry group established by the Government to examine the impact of technology on the UK’s investment management sector – published its second report, entitled ‘Further Fund Tokenisation: Achieving Investment Fund 3.0 Through Collaboration’. The new report builds on the publication of the Group’s first report...

  • Key Changes Impacting UK Employment Law From April 2024

    Several key changes to UK employment rights will come into effect in April 2024. By way of brief summary, the key changes for employers to be aware of, and those that will require immediate attention to ensure legally compliant and up-to-date HR policies and practices in the UK, include the following: Changes to the flexible...

  • Employment: What is coming into force in April 2024 in the UK?

    As we highlighted in our previous post (What to expect in employment law in 2024), 2023 saw the introduction of several significant employment legislative changes. Just to remind you of the changes due to come into effect in April. Holiday Leave and Pay: Provisions for irregular hours and part-year workers apply to leave years starting...

  • Virtual and Digital Health Digest, March 2024

    This digest covers key virtual and digital health regulatory and public policy developments during February 2024. Of note, the UK continues to pursue a “pro innovation” flexible approach to the regulation of AI. As outlined in the UK government’s response to the public consultation, the government will develop a set of core principles for regulating AI, while...

  • Massachusetts High Court Upholds Local Tobacco Sales Ban

    The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently upheld, in a unanimous decision, the town of Brookline’s ordinance banning the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2000 (the Tobacco Sales Ban). Brookline is the first U.S. locality to impose a tobacco sales ban based on a specific date. Given this...

  • Massachusetts High Court Upholds Local Tobacco Sales Ban

    The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently upheld, in a unanimous decision, the town of Brookline’s ordinance banning the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2000 (the Tobacco Sales Ban). Brookline is the first U.S. locality to impose a tobacco sales ban based on a specific date. Given this...

  • Building a Smarter Financial Services Regulatory Framework for the UK: The next phase

    On 22 March 2024, HM Treasury (HMT) published a Policy Paper on the next phase of “Building a Smarter Financial Services Regulatory Framework for the UK”. The Policy Paper outlines the impact and progress of the programme so far, work underway and the Government’s approach on the next phase of the Smarter Regulatory (SRF) Framework....

  • Navigating Conflicts of Belief in the UK Workplace

    With thanks to Monica Kurnatowska, partner in our London office. In the UK, in principle, it is possible for employers to restrict employees’ expressions of views. But where those views reflect a religious or other belief protected under the Equality Act 2010, the scope to do so is far more limited. A number of employment...

  • APHA sees Cryptosporidium workload rise but E. coli outbreaks fall

    The number of Cryptosporidium outbreaks involving an agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) increased in 2023. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) assisted with investigations into seven Cryptosporidium parvum outbreaks linked to an animal origin. Five were in England and two were in Wales. One outbreak of cryptosporidiosis was...

  • FCA publishes Business Plan 2024/25

    On 19 March 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its Business Plan for 2024/25, setting out the work it will do over the next 12 months to help deliver its commitments in the third year of its 3-year strategy, with the aim of achieving better outcomes for consumers and markets. The Business Plan highlights...

  • Update for Insolvency Practitioners on UK Companies House Filings

    Following our previous alert, in which we highlighted an issue with entries relating to registered security maintained at Companies House being incorrectly updated to indicate that they had in fact been discharged without the awareness of the relevant company or security holder, it appears that some (potentially all) unauthorised filings have been – or are in...

  • Consultation on competition and consumer protection related information sharing

    On 18 March 2024, the Department for Business and Trade announced that it is consulting on competition and consumer protection related information sharing between relevant UK public authorities. The consultation paper highlights that the sharing of information among regulators and public bodies plays an important role in effective enforcement and regulation, and that there can...

  • UK ICO Publishes New Guidance on Fines

    On March 18, 2024, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office published new data protection fining guidance on how the ICO decides to determine penalties and calculate fines.

  • FCA, Ofgem, Ofwat and Ofcom set out consumer outcomes firms should be delivering

    On 18 March 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a joint letter with Ofgem, Ofwat and Ofcom via the UK Regulators’ Network, outlining their shared expectations of the consumer outcomes firms should be delivering in response to identified consumer harms across their sectors, particularly in relation to debt collection practices. Accordingly, together with Ofgem,...

  • Charity finds unsafe food given to asylum seekers

    A report has found evidence of poor food safety in meals given to people seeking asylum in the capital of England. Concerns were raised about food in catered accommodation in London, with reports of unsafe products and a lack of provision for people with allergies. Sustain, Jesuit Refugee Service UK, and Life Seekers Aid conducted the research between October...

  • FSA and FSS call for action to tackle vet shortage

    Two food agencies in the United Kingdom have voiced their concern about the lack of vets and the potential impact on the meat sector. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) urged the government and the veterinary profession to develop a sustainable approach to the UK’s vet capacity and capability. FSS and...

  • UK Government Outlines New Action to Tackle Biases in Medical Devices

    On March 11, 2023, the UK Government published its response (“Government Response”) to an independent review on equity in medical devices commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (“Review”). The Government Response is not guidance nor policy rather it is intended to act as an action plan for tackling potential bias in the...

  • UK Judge Permits “Raw” Label for Honey

    A UK judge has decided that Odysea Ltd, an artisan food company, can use the word “raw” to describe its small-batch, minimally‑processed honey. Judge Neville, of the First‑tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber), gave the decision on 26 February 2024. The judgement is available here and opens with a classic reference to Winnie the Pooh: The dispute arose...

  • UK and Australia Agree Enhanced Cross-Border Cooperation in Online Safety and Security

    On 20 February, 2024, the Governments of the UK and Australia co-signed the UK-Australia Online Safety and Security Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”). The MoU seeks to serve as a framework for the two countries to jointly deliver concrete and coordinated online safety and security policy initiatives and outcomes to support their citizens, businesses and economies....

  • In-Person Event: US Export Controls Workshops in the UK – July 16-18, 2024

    From EAR to ITARnity: Ever-Challenging US Export Controls Compliance When: July 16-18, 2024 Where: Stratford-upon-Avon, UK This hugely successful and highly praised event on US export controls regulations, which is jointly organised by Export Group for Aerospace, Defence & Dual-Use (EGADD) and Squire Patton Boggs, will be celebrating its 17th Anniversary when it takes place in...

  • BoE publishes PS5/24 on solvent exit planning for non-systemic banks and building societies

    On 12 March 2024, the Bank of England (BoE) published Policy Statement PS5/24 on solvent exit planning for non-systemic banks and building societies, setting out how these types of firm in the UK should prepare, as part of their business-as-usual (BAU) activities, for an orderly ‘solvent exit’ and, if needed, be able to execute one....

  • Employee Monitoring Technologies – Key Takeaways from Recent UK and EU Enforcement Decisions

    Employee monitoring isn’t new, but its extent and how it has been conducted has seen significant changes in the last few decades; we have come a long way from the punch cards of the 1900s to the current use of video surveillance, e-comms monitoring and AI, among other monitoring tools. Part of this comes from...

  • FCA updates its position on cryptoasset Exchange Traded Notes for professional investors

    On 11 March 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a statement updating its position on cryptoasset-backed Exchange Traded Notes (cETNs) for professional investors. The statement explains that the FCA will not object to requests from Recognised Investment Exchanges (RIEs) to create a UK listed market segment for cETNs. These products would be available for...

  • UK Business Immigration: Skilled Worker visa salary hike on 4 April 2024 – what employers need to know

    The Home Office announced a number of immigration-related changes in December 2023, including a significant increase in minimum salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas. The finer detail, in the form of new Immigration Rules, will be published on 14 March with most of the changes coming into effect on 4 April 2024. In the meantime,...

  • Was 2023 a green antitrust year? Five sustainability related competition law developments you need to know

    2023 saw a number of developments concerning the interplay between sustainability considerations and competition policy. This blog post highlights the five key developments that businesses need to know when collaborating to achieve sustainable aims. Key takeaways Guidance but no safe harbours The European Commission (“Commission”), the UK’s Competition and Market Authority (“CMA”) and the...

  • Post-purchase Confusion in the UK: Iconix Luxembourg Holdings SARL v Dream Pairs Europe Inc & Anor

    From Stobbs summary: Recent Court of Appeal decision (Iconix v Dream Pairs, involving the Umbro ‘double diamond’ logo on footwear) which has clarified the need to take account of the potential for post-sale confusion when assessing likelihood of confusion between two marks. This case could present opportunities for brands to revisit confusion-based claims in the context...

  • Quick Guide to Administration (UK)

    For those unfamilar with the various insolvency processes it is not always easy to differentiate between them. In our latest insight we have produced a quick guide to administration that explains the procedure, benefits and effect of administration on third parties, including employees, suppliers and landlords. Our quick guide also explains the administrator’s role and...

  • Mrs. Kirkman’s cheese confirmed as link in 36 E. coli O145 illnesses in the UK

    According to Food Safety News, the outbreak strain has been found at a farm that supplied the milk used to make Mrs Kirkham’s unpasteurized cheese, which was linked to an E. coli outbreak in the UK. In total, 36 confirmed and one probable Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 infections have been reported, with 29...

  • Investigators confirm cheese firm’s link to deadly E. coli outbreak

    According to officials, the outbreak strain has been found at a farm that supplied the milk used to make unpasteurized cheese, which was linked to an E. coli outbreak in the UK. In total, 36 confirmed and one probable Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 infections have been reported, with 29 in England and eight...

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