In our August newsletter we bring to your attention two new UK Statutory Instruments concerning High Risk Buildings.  During the month there has also been an amendment to an SI covering building safety. From the Republic of Ireland we have amendments to  regulations on hazardous substances and on surface water quality and a new regulation on waste.  From the EU we have a regulation on batteries.

There were three new consultations on packaging, fire safety of furniture and a biogas. In the news, items which we trust may be of interest, were articles on improvements to rail safety regimes (perhaps applicable to all safety regimes), a reminder to exporters of hazardous chemicals and a safety brief on bolt types on lifting apparatus.  A company was fined £1.2million following the death of an employee who was crushed while carrying out maintenance work.

In our October newsletter we bring to your attention one new Statutory Instrument (SI) concerning building safety. We list five amendments to UK SIs; two environmental, two on the misuse of drugs and one on planning law permitting temporary school buildings. For the Republic of Ireland there is an amendment to a waste regulation and a new regulation on dangerous goods. There is an amendment to an EU Regulation on chemicals.   We list subordinate legislation and EU retained regulations which will be revoked on 31st December by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.

During the month there have been three new consultations covering charges for international waste transfers, the prevention of pollution from shipping and on general waste management. The HSE is carrying out inspections of premises using metal working fluids. A Leicestershire Quarry company has been fined £1,275,000 following a fatality which occurred during maintenance.

In our November newsletter we bring to your attention two new Acts of Parliament.  These are The Online Safety Act and the Energy Act.

It should be remembered that Acts of Parliament (primary legislation) confer powers on Ministers to make more detailed orders or regulations by means of Statutory Instruments (SIs), which are also known as secondary, subordinate or delegated legislation.  Both these Acts will, in time, result in the production of supporting SIs.

During November amendments were made to SIs covering revocation of retained EU legislation, environmental permitting, dangerous substances (two), energy saving, planning, merchant shipping, climate change and waste (four).  Consultations have been opened on anti-fouling systems and climate change agreements. We include three items of news on POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants), non-destructive testing and changes to the administration of UK REACH.  There is one prosecution of note resulting from a fall from height.

A question was asked about the difference between EU Directives and EU Regulations. EU Directives lay down certain results that must be achieved, but each Member State is free to decide how to transpose directives into its national laws. EU Regulations have binding legal force throughout every Member State and enter into force on a set date in all the Member States.

In our December newsletter we bring to your attention one new Statutory Instrument (SI) which sets up emissions trading schemes for manufacturers of cars and light commercial vehicles. During December amendments were made to SIs concerning planning, waste (Wales), plant protection, green gas, classification of substances, misuse of drugs and retained EU law. Consultations were raised on legislation covering contracts for difference and merchant shipping.  There were three significant prosecutions for health and safety violations.

The Simplifi Team would like to wish all our users everything of the best in 2024.