This blog provides a brief overview of March’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 register 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
5-Mar-2025
UK
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Exemption Order exempts certain persons from the general prohibition set out in section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“the Act”), which provides that no person may carry on a regulated activity in the United Kingdom unless they are authorised or exempt.
Link to legislation
Business
7-Mar-2025
UK
Pending until 6th April 2025
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
These Regulations bring into force certain provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c.13) (“the Act”) on 6th April 2025 and bring further provisions, relating to consumer savings, into force on 1st January 2026. These are the second commencement Regulations made under the Act.
Link to legislation
Business
7-Mar-2025
UK
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (CMA Consumer Enforcement Rules) Regulations 2025
The rules, which are set out in the Schedule, deal with procedural and other matters in connection with the carrying out of direct enforcement functions by the CMA under Part 3 (enforcement of consumer protection law) of the Act.
Link to legislation
Health & Safety
10-Mar-2025
UK
The REACH Fees and Charges (Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 340/2008) Regulations 2025
Amends the current Commission Regulation (EC) No 340/2008 on the fees and charges payable to the European Chemicals Agency pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (“the Fees and Charges Regulation”). The amendment requires those fees and charges to be paid to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) from 1st April 2025 for any application to register any substance or application for an authorisation to manufacture, import or use any substance that is subject to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (EUR 2006/1907) (“UK REACH”).
Link to legislation
Employment
21-Mar-2025
UK
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025
This instrument makes a series of consequential amendments to various legislation, as set out below, to account for the introduction of this new statutory leave and pay entitlement.
Link to legislation
Employment
12-Mar-29025
UK
The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 (“the PAYE Regulations”) (S.I. 2003/2682) which make provision for the assessment, charge, collection and recovery of income tax in respect of pay as you earn income.
Link to legislation
Employment
13-Mar-2025
UK
The Statutory Maternity Pay (Compensation of Employers) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Statutory Maternity Pay (Compensation of Employers) and Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/1882) (“the principal GB regulations”) and the Statutory Maternity Pay (Compensation of Employers) and Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 (S.R. 1994 No. 271) (“the principal NI Regulations”).
Link to legislation
Employment
14-Mar-2025
UK
Pending until 6h April 2025
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2025
From 6 April 2025 this Order increases the limits (maximum or minimum) applying to certain awards of Employment Tribunals and other amounts payable under employment legislation, as specified in the Schedule to the Order. This is in line with the increase in the retail prices index (‘RPI’) between September 2023 and September 2024 (+2.7%) and in accordance with the formula set out in section 34 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 (‘ERA 1999’).
Link to legislation
Environment
18-Mar-2025
Scotland
The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (“the 2000 Regulations”) to correct errors in certain amendments made to the 2000 Regulations by the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020.
Link to legislation
Safety
20-Mar-2025
UK
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2025
These Regulations are the fifth commencement regulations made under the Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50) (“the Act”). They bring into force duties on providers of regulated user-to-user services to report Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (“CSEA”) content to the National Crime Agency (“NCA”) and other provisions, such as the offence relating to CSEA reporting and provisions relating to the Office of Communications’ (“OFCOM”) enforcement powers and the information offences, as they relate to the CSEA reporting requirement.
Link to legislation
Safety
20-Mar-2025
UK
The Online Safety (CSEA Content Reporting by Regulated User-to-User Service Providers) Regulations 2025
This instrument sets out what is required of in-scope companies to comply with the requirement in the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) to report child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) content to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Link to legislation
Finance
20-Mar-2025
UK
Finance Act 2025
Rates for 2025-2026
Link to legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/8/contents/enacted
Building
25-Mar-2025
Wales
The Building etc. (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Building Regulations 2010 (“Building Regulations”) as they apply in relation to Wales, and the Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (“Approvers Regulations”). The amendments made by these Regulations impose new requirements for digital infrastructure and connectivity in newly built dwellings.
Link to legislation
Employment
25-Mar-2025
Northern Ireland
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
The Statutory Rule is made in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 33(2) and 39(3) of the Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (“the 1999 Order”) as amended by section 22 of the Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (“the 2016 Act”) and is required to be laid before the Assembly under Article 33(6) of the 1999 Order after being made. It is subject to a laying requirement but not to any Assembly proceedings.
Link to legislation
Information Security
26-Mar-2025
UK
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
This instrument makes amendments to legislation in consequence of Part 3 (enforcement of consumer protection law), Part 4 (consumer rights and disputes) and Chapter 2 of Part 5 (provision of investigative assistance to overseas regulators) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (“DMCCA”).
Link to legislation
Employment
26-Mar-2025
UK
Pending until 6th April 2025
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (General) Regulations 2025
These instruments make provision to implement a new statutory entitlement, as introduced by the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023. Neonatal Care Leave and Pay will be available to 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 this care. The entitlement will apply to employed parents of children born on or after 6 April 2025 and provide these 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
26-Mar-2025
Employment
Pending until 6th April 2025
The Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025
These instruments make provision to implement a new statutory entitlement, as
introduced by the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023. Neonatal Care Leave and
Pay will be available to 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 this
care. The entitlement will apply to employed parents of children born on or after 6
April 2025 and provide these 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
Finance
27-Mar-2025
UK
The Finance Act 2021 (Amendment of Schedule 26 Penalty Figures) (Appointed Day: Regulation Making Power) Regulations 2025
Schedule 26 to the Finance Act 2021 provides for penalties for failure to pay tax. Penalties are payable where tax remains unpaid after the end of 15 days and 30 days from the due date for payment. The penalty amounts are calculated by applying specified percentages to the amount of the unpaid tax.
Link to legislation
Security
31-Mar-2025
UK
The National Security Act 2023 (Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Information and Disclosure) Regulations 2025
This instrument sets out the information that will be required at registration under the scheme in Part 4 of the National Security Act 2023 (c. 32) known as “the Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme”. It also sets out the minimum period in which a response to an information notice will be required; the form in which registrants should notify the Secretary of State of a material change to an arrangement; and the grounds under which information provided under the scheme may be disclosed by the Secretary of State.
Link to legislation
Environment
31-Mar-2025
Northern Ireland
The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025
The purpose of this instrument is to implement recent changes made by the European Union to the Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors Directive 2000/14/EC (“the Directive”). The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 (“the Regulations”) implemented the Directive in the United Kingdom. Following the changes made by the EU to the Directive, the Regulations must also be amended as they apply in Northern Ireland. These changes must be made to comply with the terms of the Windsor Framework Agreement. The changes amend Schedule 6 of the Regulations to update the methods by which airborne noise is tested for equipment in scope of the legislation. In addition, the changes amend regulation 12 of the Regulations, to reduce the reporting requirements for manufacturers of products in scope of the legislation so that they no longer need to provide the Commission and the relevant national authority with a copy of their declaration of conformity.
Link to legislation
Transport
31-Mar-2025
UK
The Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs (Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2025
This instrument amends legislation related to drivers’ hours and tachograph rules (see section 5) for international transport journeys to fully implement international obligations under the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) Trade and Cooperation Agreement (“TCA”)1.
Link to legislation
Employment
31-Mar-2025
UK
The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025
This instrument increases the single, main hourly rate of the National Living Wage (or “NLW”) from £11.44 to £12.21. The NLW was introduced in April 2016 for working people aged 25 and over and was extended to those aged 23 and over in April 2021 and those aged 21 and over in 2024. This instrument also increases the hourly rate of the National Minimum Wage (or “NMW”) for workers aged 18 years and over (but not yet aged 21) from £8.60 to £10.00, workers above school leaving age (but not yet aged 18) from £6.40 to £7.55, and apprentices who are under the age of 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship from £6.40 to £7.55. 4.4 In addition, this instrument increases the maximum daily amount for living accommodation, known as the accommodation offset rate, which is allowed to count towards pay for NMW and NLW purposes. This rate is increased from £9.99 to £10.66
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
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