Home > What’s on the retail horizon?

What’s on the retail horizon?

There are a number of significant legal and regulatory changes on the horizon in 2024 which will shape the retail landscape.

Our Retail Horizon Scanner is designed to help retail businesses in the UK stay up to date by giving an overview of the legal developments in the sector.

Check out our LinkedIn page where we provide more detailed updates throughout the year.

Please contact one of our retail experts to talk about what these changes mean for you and your business.

January
Pre-packed food labelling requirements
Pre-packed food labelling requirements

From 1 January 2024, pre-packed food products sold in GB must include…
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January
The Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023
The Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023

From 1 January 2024, amongst other changes, the first four weeks of…
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January
The Platform Operators (Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2023
The Platform Operators (Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2023

In-scope UK digital platforms must collect and report to HMRC annually information…
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January
Code of Practice on preventing illegal working: Right to Work scheme for employers in force
Code of Practice on preventing illegal working: Right to Work scheme for employers in force

Increases to illegal working fines took effect in January. To assist employers…
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March
Online Safety Act 2023 – start of guidance roadmap
Online Safety Act 2023 – start of guidance roadmap

This Act appoints Ofcom as the UK’s online safety regulator to govern…
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March
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024

The UK Government published draft regulations (The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England)…
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April
Paternity leave changes
Paternity leave changes

Employees whose babies were born (or in the case of adoption, placed)…
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April
Importing plants and plant products
Importing plants and plant products

From 30 April 2024: Checks of high risk plants and plant products…
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April
New statutory right to Carer’s leave
New statutory right to Carer’s leave

The new regulations allow employees to take one week’s unpaid leave in…
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April
Minimum wage increase
Minimum wage increase

The Government announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on…
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April
New rules for ‘irregular hours’ and ‘part year’ workers
New rules for ‘irregular hours’ and ‘part year’ workers

“Rolled-up” holiday pay is permitted for part-year and irregular hours workers only…
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April
Changes to statutory right to request flexible working
Changes to statutory right to request flexible working

From 6 April it is a ‘day 1 right’ for employees to…
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April
Building Safety Act 2022 transitional periods end on 6 April
Building Safety Act 2022 transitional periods end on 6 April

The Building Safety Act 2022 transitional periods end on 6 April 2024,…
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April
Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022
Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022

The relevant parts of this Act comes into effect from 29 April…
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April
Maternity Leave redundancy protection extension
Maternity Leave redundancy protection extension

From 6 April additional protection for employees who are pregnant/on maternity leave…
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May
DEFRA’s Consultation on food labelling
DEFRA’s Consultation on food labelling

DEFRA’s consultation on fairer food labelling closes on 7 May. DEFRA are…
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May
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Enforcement Agenda
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Enforcement Agenda

OPSS’ recent consultation on updating its Enforcement Policy indicated a clear policy…
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May
Financial Conduct Authority Sustainability Disclosure Requirement
Financial Conduct Authority Sustainability Disclosure Requirement

From 31 May 2024, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated firms must ensure…
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May
Review of GDPR
Review of GDPR

The European Commission will undertake its first major review on 25 May…
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June
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) has now officially been…
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July
Statutory Code of Practice on “fire and rehire”
Statutory Code of Practice on “fire and rehire”

The Code seeks to ensure that ‘fire and rehire’ is only used…
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July
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 Reforms
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 Reforms

The amendment to TUPE enables small employers (fewer than 50 employees) and…
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July
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) continue to focus on environmental claims in advertising
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) continue to focus on environmental claims in advertising

The ASA last year undertook consumer research on green claims in food…
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July
Extension of the Consumer Duty
Extension of the Consumer Duty

The new Consumer Duty, that came into force on 31 July 2023,…
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September
Construction Products Changes
Construction Products Changes

June 2025 deadline revoked for CE Marking for construction products. The 30…
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September
Continued recognition for CE marking
Continued recognition for CE marking

Legislation was passed in May 2024 to continue CE recognition for 21…
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October
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023

This Act establishes a new legal duty for employers to take reasonable…
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October
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023

This Act requires employers to pass on any tips, gratuities, or service…
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October
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Businesses with a turnover exceeding £1 million that import or supply over…
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October
Employment Rights Bill
Employment Rights Bill

In the King’s Speech in Parliament on 17th July 2024 a series…
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December
CE Marking
CE Marking

UKCA marking: 2024 had been expected to be the last year in which…
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December
EU General Product Safety Regulation
EU General Product Safety Regulation

This Regulation modernises the EU general product safety framework and attempts to…
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December
EU Deforestation Regulation
EU Deforestation Regulation

This EU Regulation requires (EU) companies trading in coffee, oil palm, rubber,…
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December
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging waste
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging waste

A new extended producer responsibility regime, requiring the producer to pay the…
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No set date
Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling
Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling

The UK Government aim to introduce secondary legislation to make water efficiency…
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No set date
Regulation on Deforestation Free Products
Regulation on Deforestation Free Products

The UK Government will introduce secondary legislation to ensure no products produced…
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No set date
UK Digital Pound
UK Digital Pound

The Bank of England (BoE) is considering introducing a ‘digital pound’. It…
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No set date
(EU) Cyber Solidarity Act
(EU) Cyber Solidarity Act

The Act is awaiting formal approval by European Parliament and the Council.…
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No set date
(UK) Review of the Computer Misuse Act 1990
(UK) Review of the Computer Misuse Act 1990

The Home Office published its review in November 2023, in which it…
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No set date
(UK) Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Private Members’ Bill
(UK) Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Private Members’ Bill

The second reading was expected to start on 22 March 2024. Private…
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No set date
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023

The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 allows for the Secretary…
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No set date
Consultation on Age Verification
Consultation on Age Verification

The Government is consulting (closing on 30 March 2024) on whether to…
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No set date
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023: Part 10
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023: Part 10

Part 10 of the Act aims to give local authorities additional powers…
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No set date
EU Cyber Resilience Act
EU Cyber Resilience Act

Expected to enter into force in 2024, this Act will guarantee: harmonised…
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No set date
Allergen labelling
Allergen labelling

We expect an update on written allergen information in the context of…
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No set date
No/low alcohol
No/low alcohol

In 2023, the government held a consultation seeking on low and no…
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No set date
New permitting requirements for waste carriers, brokers and dealers – and digital waste tracking
New permitting requirements for waste carriers, brokers and dealers – and digital waste tracking

In October 2023 the government indicated that it intends to introduce a new…
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No set date
Martyn’s Law
Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law (The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill) has started its passage…
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No set date
The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023
The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023

This will allow eligible employed parents whose newborn baby is admitted to…
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No set date
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023

This Act will give workers and agency workers the right to request…
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