This blog provides a brief overview of February’s Legal Updates, which are relevant to Quality, Environmental, Info Sec and Health & Safety to help your organisation stay aligned with the latest legal requirements.
How to use this Update:
- You should review these updates and decide whether they are applicable to your company.
- Add all relevant items to your legal resister and document your compliance.
- Ensure all policy and procedures align with the new governance and compliance requirements.
- Provide information and training to all relevant to ensure you remain compliant
- Please note ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001 and other standards require you to conduct a compliance evaluation.
Need assistance with these updates? We are here to help: Contact us
Finance
3/2/2025
UK
The Pension Protection Fund and Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order 2025
The Pension Protection Fund provides compensation to pension scheme members
whose employer has become insolvent and whose scheme cannot secure its liabilities
at least at the compensation levels paid by the Pension Protection Fund. It is funded
partly by a levy collected from pension schemes. This Order increases the levy ceiling amount which can be collected in the 2025/26 financial year1 by the Board of the
Pension Protection Fund2 (“the Board”). The levy ceiling is increased annually in line
with growth in the general level of earnings and controls is maximum amount of levy
the Board can charge pension schemes.
Link to legislation
Finance
3/2/2025
Northern Ireland
The Companies (Disqualification Orders) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
The purpose of the regulations is twofold. They first of all alter the forms prescribed for use by the clerk of the court when furnishing the Department and the Secretary of State with particulars about disqualification orders as required by Article 22(1) of the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (“the CDDO”) so that they can be used in the case of disqualification orders made under sections 8ZF and 8ZG of the Company Directors Disqualification Act
1986 (“the CDDA”). Secondly, they extend provisions in Article 22 of the CDDO so that the requirements under that Article relating to the furnishing by the clerk of the court of particulars about disqualification orders and undertakings to the Department and the Secretary of State and the entry by the Department of information about disqualification orders and undertakings in its register will apply in the case of disqualification orders made and undertakings accepted under sections 8Zf and 8ZG of the CDDA, as these two sections extend to Northern Ireland.
Link to legislation
Environment
6/2/2025
UK
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2025
This instrument makes amendments to the legislation which gives effect to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (the “UK ETS”). This includes providing for the recalculation of the volume of free allocation which an operator is entitled to in circumstances in which one or more sub-installations have “ceased operation”. That recalculation ensures that the volume of free allocation which an operator is entitled to reflects actual activity levels at the relevant sub-installation in the final year in which those operations permanently ceased. The instrument includes an exemption from this recalculation in circumstances in which the cessation is a part of a series of changes which result in an improvement in the carbon efficiency of the activities carried out at the installation. This Order also makes changes to circumstances in which an installation or sub-installation has “ceased operation” for the purposes of UK ETS legislation and provides a power for a scheme regulator to issue a notice which provides that an installation or sub-installation has “ceased operation” where it is not satisfied that certain conditions are met.
Link to legislation
Environment
7/2/2025
Scotland
The Environmental Protection (Injurious Articles) (Fixed Penalty Notices and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025
These Regulations make provision for a fixed penalty notice procedure in relation to offences under the Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”), the Environmental Protection (Cotton Buds) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (“the 2019 Regulations”), the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (“the 2021 Regulations”), and the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (“the 2024 Regulations”).
Link to legislation
Environment
7/2/2025
Northern Ireland
The Waste (Materials Facilities) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
The amendments require the Department to ensure that appropriate conditions are included in waste management licences and PPC permits which authorise materials facilities so that the Code of Practice on Sampling and Reporting at Materials Facilities issued by the Department1 is complied with. To that end, they insert various new definitions into both sets of Regulations.
Link to legislation
Environment
12/2/2025
UK
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025
This instrument makes amendments to the legislation which gives effect to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (the “UK ETS”). The UK ETS incentivises decarbonisation by requiring operators to purchase allowances based on carbon emissions.
Link to legislation
Environment
13/2/2025
England
The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025
This instrument sets two exemptions made under section 45AZC of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (“the Act”). This section creates powers to grant exemptions to the provisions of the Act that implement requirements for recyclable waste to be separately collected so that it can be recycled or composted.
Link to legislation
Environment
13/2/2025
Wales
Pending 1st April 2025
The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations prescribe the standard rate, lower rate and unauthorised disposals rate for landfill disposals tax chargeable on taxable disposals (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Act 2017) made on or after 1 April 2025.
Link to legislation
Environment
14/2/2025
UK
The Environmental Permitting (Electricity Generating Stations) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
This instrument amends the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154) (“the Permitting Regulations”), to introduce a new requirement for new and substantially refurbishing combustion plants to include a ‘decarbonisation readiness report’ as part of their environmental permitting application.
Link to legislation
Transport
14/2/2025
Northern Ireland
The Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
The main purpose of the Regulations covered by this Memorandum is to amend the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”) to provide for an increase in the maximum authorised weights in domestic traffic for certain alternatively fuelled vehicles and certain zero-emission vehicles, to support their uptake as part of the move to a net zero carbon emission target within the transport sector.
Link to legislation
Environment
17/2/2025
Wales
The Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2025
Regulation 2 brings into force section 79 of the Act on 1 March 2025 so far as relating to undertakers whose areas are wholly or mainly in Wales. Section 79 inserts new sections 94A to 94E into the Water Industry Act 1991, to introduce new requirements on sewerage undertakers to prepare, publish and maintain drainage and sewerage management plans.
Link to legislation
Business
17/2/2025
UK
The Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025
This instrument also makes changes to ensure ongoing compliance with the UK’s international obligations in respect of public procurement. It implements the changes required to update the financial thresholds which govern the procedures for the award of public contracts for goods, works and services. These changes are required to ensure the UK complies with its obligations under the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA).
Link to legislation
Environment
20/2/2025
Scotland
The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/95) (“the 2000 Regulations”) to correct errors in the 2000 Regulations and in certain amendments made to those the 2000 Regulations by the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”)
Link to legislation
Employment
24/2/2025
UK
Pending 5th April 2025
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Administration) Regulations 2025
These instruments are part of a package of regulations which together make provision to implement a new statutory entitlement to Neonatal Care Leave and Pay for employed parents if their child receives neonatal care starting within 28 days of birth and goes on to spend seven or more continuous days in care. The entitlement will apply to children born on or after 6th April 2025 and provide employed parents with up to twelve weeks of paid leave. Together, the package will ensure that parents who are employees will be supported to take time away from work to care for their child who is receiving or has received Neonatal Care.
Link to legislation
Employment
24/2/2025
UK
Pending 5th April 2025
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations 2025
These instruments are part of a package of regulations which together make provision to implement a new statutory entitlement to Neonatal Care Leave and Pay for employed parents if their child receives neonatal care starting within 28 days of birth and goes on to spend seven or more continuous days in care. The entitlement will apply to children born on or after 6th April 2025 and provide employed parents with up to twelve weeks of paid leave. Together, the package will ensure that parents who are employees will be supported to take time away from work to care for their child who is receiving or has received Neonatal Care
Link to legislation
Employment
24/2/2025
UK
Pending 5th April 2025
The Neonatal Care Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations 2025
This instrument amends various pieces of secondary legislation to reflect the introduction of Neonatal Care Leave and Pay, which is a new statutory entitlement for employed parents if their child receives neonatal care starting within 28 days of birth and goes on to spend seven or more continuous days in care. The entitlement will apply to children born on or after 6th April 2025. When calculating entitlements to certain other benefits or rights, leave from work and pay is often a relevant factor. This instrument makes provision to ensure that it is clear in those pieces of secondary legislation how Neonatal Care Leave and Pay is to be treated in those calculations and to ensure the Neonatal Care Leave and Pay scheme is administered as intended.
Link to legislation
Employment
24/2/2025
UK
Arbitration Act 2025
An Act to amend the Arbitration Act 1996; and for connected purposes.
Link to legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/4/contents/enacted
Information Security
27/2/2025
UK
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025
These Regulations are made under the Online Safety Act 2023 (“the Act”) to provide for threshold conditions for Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B services.
Link to legislation
Business
27/2/2025
UK
The Protection of Trading Interests (Authorisation) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Protection of Trading Interests (Authorisation) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/132) (“the 2021 Regulations”).
Link to legislation
Business
27/2/2025
UK
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Bodies Designated to make Super-complaints) (Amendment) Order 2025
This instrument amends the Enterprise Act 2002 (Bodies Designated to make Super- complaints) Order 2004 (“the 2004 Order”) by adding the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (“the MMHPI”) to the list of designated consumer bodies. Designated consumer bodies are bodies designated by the Secretary of State under section 11 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (the “Act”) to make a complaint (known as a super-complaint) to the Competition and Markets Authority (the “CMA”) that any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services is or appears to be significantly harming the interests of consumers.
Link to legislation
ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001 and other standards require you to conduct a compliance evaluation. If you haven’t done this, we can help.
Legal Register
Assent Risk Management has made over 250 UK Legal Register entries available to search on Resilify.io’s Legal Register Database.
Need Support?
If you have questions or need guidance to navigate these updates, our team is here to help.
