Multiple EU and UK legislative changes have taken place recently. Notably, these include changes to:
EU legislations:
- Regulation (EU) 2024/568 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 February 2024 on fees and charges payable to the European Medicines Agency, amending Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2022/123 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) No 658/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 297/95
- Directive (EU) 2024/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 February 2024 amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and through better information
UK legislations:
- The Pressure Equipment (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk) : These Regulations revoke wording in regulation 2(1) and revoke and replace wording in regulations 2(1), 43(1) to (4) and 44 of and Schedule 2 (essential safety requirements), paragraphs 21(3), 31(5) and (8), to the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1105) (“the 2016 Regulations”), as they apply in relation to England and Wales and Scotland. These changes relate to which bodies can carry out third party assessments, approvals and tests under the 2016 Regulations. The wording being revoked or revoked and replaced is all secondary assimilated law within the meaning of section 11(2) of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28).
- The Customs (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk): These Regulations make various amendments to legislation relating to authorisations and approvals granted by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) relating to various customs procedures and processes, in order to harmonise and simplify those requirements, and to update the processes for the grant or refusal of an application for approval. The Regulations also add additional eligibility criteria which must be met for certain authorisations to be granted.
- The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2024 (legislation.gov.uk): The United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme (the “UK ETS”) was established by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 (the “UK ETS Order”). The UK ETS runs for ten years, split into two five-year “allocation periods”. Operators of certain industrial installations are required to monitor, submit verified reports on, and surrender “allowances” equivalent to, their greenhouse gas emissions each year. Allowances are sold at auction, but some operators of installations and aircraft operators receive an allocation of allowances free of charge. For installations that meet the eligibility criteria, there are two schemes in addition to the main scheme, one for “hospitals or small emitters”, the other for “ultra-small emitters”.
- The Treatment of Conformity Assessment Bodies (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)
