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 apply to your company.
- Add all relevant items to your legal register and document your compliance.
- Ensure all policies and procedures align with the new governance and compliance requirements.
- Provide information and training to all relevant personnel to ensure you remain compliant
- Please note that 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
Employment
2nd March
UK
The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Firstly, this legislation puts into statute a filing concession for employers who cease to trade during the tax year (or Insolvency Practitioners acting on their behalf). Secondly, in order to enable mandatory real-time reporting of benefits in kind from 6 April 2027, a further amendment is required. This legislation removes the legal right for employers to voluntarily report the benefits in kind, to HMRC, from 6 April 2026
Link to legislation
Building
2nd March
Wales
The Building Safety Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026
These Regulations make amendments to legislation which are consequential on Part 3 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (“the 2022 Act”).
Link to legislation
Environment
3rd March
UK
The REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026
This legislation amends assimilated regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (“UK REACH”) which regulates chemicals in Great Britain (GB). UK REACH is the assimilated version of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EUR 2006/1907) (“EU REACH”). EU REACH continues to apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. The amendment to UK REACH made by this legislation adds further restrictions on the use and placing on the market of lead and its compounds to entry 63 of Annex 17. Transition periods apply for these changes.
Link to legislation
Finance
4th March
UK
The Corporation Tax (Treatment of Unrelieved Surplus Advance Corporation Tax) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
This instrument amends the Corporation Tax (Treatment of Unrelieved Surplus Advance Corporation Tax) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/358) (“the 1999 regulations”). The 1999 regulations were introduced following abolition of the Advance Corporation Tax (“ACT”) regime to ensure that any unrelieved surplus ACT balances could still be accessed to broadly the same extent had the ACT regime continued. This was achieved through the introduction of the shadow ACT rules which involved a notional calculation of ACT paid on distributions made after 5 April 1999. This instrument amends the shadow ACT provisions and cancels all remaining shadow ACT balances. This affects fewer than 100 companies that continue to report unrelieved surplus ACT balances in their company tax returns.
Link to legislation
Environment
5th March
UK
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Auctioning (Amendment) Regulations 2026
This instrument makes amendments to the legislation which provides for the auctioning of emissions allowances to emit 1 tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (the “UK ETS”) and associated mechanisms to support market stability.
Link to legislation
Employment
5th March
UK
The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Statutory Sick Pay) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
This instrument makes consequential amendments necessary to implement the Employment Rights Act 20251 (“the 2025 Act”). The 2025 Act removes the requirement to earn above the Lower Earnings Limit (“the LEL”, see para 5.4) to be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (“SSP”) and removes the requirement to serve waiting days (see para 5.5) at the start of a sickness absence. This instrument removes, from relevant secondary legislation (see paras 6.3-6.4), references to the LEL and the fourth day of an absence which are no longer relevant.
Link to legislation
Environment
9th March
Wales
The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Wales) Regulations 2003. They provide that an appropriate authority may issue fixed penalty notices in relation to stationary idling offences for amounts from within a range.
Link to legislation
Environment
9th March
Wales
The Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023 (“the 2023 Regulations”).
Link to legislation
Environment
11th March
UK
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
This instrument makes amendments to the legislation which gives effect to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (the “UK ETS”). This includes provisions enabling incumbent installations to have their 2020, or 2020 and 2021, scheme year(s) data excluded from the calculation of their historical activity level (“HAL”) for the 2027- 2030 allocation period. The primary aim of these provisions is to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HALs for the 2027-2030 allocation period.
Link to legislation
Business
11th March
UK
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Conferral of Functions) Regulations 2026
This instrument confers certain functions on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (“the CTSI”) to operationalise the mandatory accreditation framework for providers of alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) services for consumer contract disputes in Chapter 4 Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act”)
Link to legislation
Employment
11th March
UK
The Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80B to Parental Order Cases) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
The Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave Regulations 2026 (“the BPPL Regulations”) make provision to implement a new statutory leave entitlement to be known as Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave. This legislation is required by sections 80A and 80B of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (“the 1996 Act”), following amendments made by the Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act”)
Link to legislation
Health & Safety
11th March
UK
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2026
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application Outside Great Britain) Order 20131 (AOGBO) extends the application of specified health and safety regulations to specified activities when they take place offshore. This instrument varies the AOGBO to extend the specified health and safety regulations to offshore hydrogen production. Offshore hydrogen production covers a variety of technologies that can be utilised to produce hydrogen at offshore installations with either very low or zero emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), as defined by the UK Government’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.
Link to legislation
Information Security
12th March
UK
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
The instrument is part of a group of instruments that implement Chapter 4 Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act”) replacing the voluntary Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) accreditation framework in the UK and introducing a mandatory accreditation framework for ADR providers for consumer contracts disputes
Link to legislation
Information Security
12th March
UK
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026
These Regulations are the seventh commencement regulations made under the Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50) (“the Act”). They bring into force the duty on providers of regulated user-to-user services to report Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (“CSEA”) content to the National Crime Agency and the offence in relation to CSEA reporting under this duty. They also bring into force other provisions in relation to the duty and the offence, including provision conferring functions on the Office of Communications in relation to obtaining information and supplementary provision about offences under the Act.
Link to legislation
Information Security
16th March
UK
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Information) Regulations 2026
This instrument details what information accredited ADR providers, former accredited ADR providers, and exempt ADR providers are required to provide to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (“the CTSI”) or publish on their websites for the benefit of consumers, the means of providing or publishing this information, and when information is required.
Link to legislation
Information Security
16th March
UK
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Fees) Regulations 2026
What does the legislation do? Chapter 4, Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act”) introduces a mandatory accreditation framework for providers of alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) for consumer contracts disputes. The intention of mandating accreditation of ADR providers is to strengthen the ADR framework in the UK.
Link to legislation
Information Security
16th March
UK
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026
These Regulations bring into force Chapter 4 of Part 4 and Schedules 25 to 27 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13) (“the Act”) on 6th April 2026 (“the commencement date”). These are the third commencement regulations made under the Act.
Link to legislation
Employment
17th March
UK
The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Enforcement) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
This instrument makes consequential amendments to certain secondary legislation, to ensure labour market enforcement and licensing functions can be exercised by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. The legislation under which these labour market enforcement and licensing functions arise are set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 to the Employment Rights Act 2025 (“the Act”). These functions of the Secretary of State will, in practice, be exercised operationally through the Fair Work Agency (“the FWA”). The FWA is an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade.
Link to legislation
Employment
18th March
UK
Pending 6th April 2026
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2026
From 6 April 2026 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 2024 and September 2025 (+4.5%) and in accordance with the formula set out in section 34 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 (‘ERA 1999’).
Link to legislation
Information Security
18th March
Scotland
Pending
1st January 2027
The Digital Waste Tracking (Scotland) Regulations 2026
These Regulations are the first to be made under powers in section 34CA and 34CB of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”). They establish in Scotland a digital waste tracking system, the purpose of which is to track controlled waste. The Regulations come into force on 1 January 2027.
Link to legislation
Finance
19th March
UK
The Finance Act 2021, Section 95 and Schedule 18 (Distance Selling: Northern Ireland) (Appointed Day No. 3) Regulations 2026
These Regulations appoint 31st March 2026 as the day on which section 95(1) of and Schedule 18 to the Finance Act 2021 come into force, so far as they are not already in force.
Link to legislation
Finance
20th March
UK
Finance Act 2026
This item of legislation is only available to download and view as PDF.
Link to legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/11/contents/enacted
Employment
23rd March
UK
The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations bring into force certain provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36) (“the 2025 Act”) on dates specified in these Regulations and detailed below. They are the second commencement regulations made under the 2025 Act. Certain provisions came into force on Royal Assent by virtue of section 159(1) of the 2025 Act and two months after Royal Assent by virtue of section 159(2) of the 2025 Act.
Link to legislation
Finance
24th March
UK
The Income Tax (Digital Obligations) Regulations 2026
This instrument brings Making Tax Digital (MTD) obligations for Income Tax into effect from 1 April 2026. Affected taxpayers (unincorporated businesses and landlords) must keep their records digitally and use MTD‑compatible software to send HMRC quarterly updates of income and expenses and file their annual Self Assessment tax return.
Link to legislation
Building
24th March
England
The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026 (“the instrument”) make amendments to the Building Regulations 2010 (“the Building Regulations”) and the Building Regulations (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations 2024 (“the 2024 Regulations”) to make the legislative changes needed to implement the Future Homes and Buildings Standards (“FHBS”), which is the name given to this planned update of energy efficiency requirements and Part L of the Building Regulations. The FHBS aim to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon emissions of new dwellings and non-domestic buildings to ensure they are zero carbon ready.
Link to legislation
Employment
26th March
UK
Pending 6th April 2026
The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026
These Regulations commence sections 10 to 13 of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36) (the “2025 Act”), which relate to statutory sick pay. These Regulations also contain transitional provisions in relation to employees who are unable to work immediately before 6th April 2026 due to illness, and who continue to be unable to work due to illness on or after that date.
Link to legislation
Finance
26th March
UK
The Finance Act 2021 (Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax) (Penalties) (Appointed Day: Digitally Obligated Persons) Regulations 2026
These Regulations provide that 1st April 2026 is the appointed day on which Schedules 24 to 27 come into force for income tax and capital gains tax for the purposes of failures by digitally obligated persons in relation to returns required to be made and tax payable by persons other than trustees or partnerships.
Link to legislation
Employment
26th March
UK
Pending 6th April 2026
The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026
This instrument increases the single, main hourly rate of the National Living Wage (or “NLW”) from £12.21 to £12.71. 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.
Link to legislation
Employment
27th March
Northern Ireland
The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Miscarriage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
As per the statutory requirements under section 167ZZ19 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and Article 112EF of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, this Statutory Rule introduces a new criterion of entitlement for Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay on the grounds of miscarriage as specified in the Regulations.
Link to legislation
Information Security
31st March
UK
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026
This instrument makes consequential amendments to references to the ‘Information Commissioner’ and their office (ICO) in legislation to reflect the abolition of that office and the transfer of its functions to a new body corporate, the Information Commission, established by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUA Act). It contains a transitional provision in respect of the person who is the first chair of the Information Commission pursuant to paragraph 2 of Schedule 14 of the DUA Act and makes three other minor and technical consequential amendments relating to other changes made by the DUA Act.
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.
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