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

The Home Office has confirmed that increases to illegal working fines will…
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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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March
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill

The Government’s consultation on its draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill ends…
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March
The UK Government Tobacco and Vapes Bill
The UK Government Tobacco and Vapes Bill

The UK Government introduces the Tobacco and Vapes Bill into Parliament. This…
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April
Banned Practices
Banned Practices

Fake reviews and “drip pricing” will be added to the list of…
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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
Paternity leave changes
Paternity leave changes

Employees whose babies are born (or in the case of adoption, placed)…
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April
New statutory right to Carer’s leave
New statutory right to Carer’s leave

The new regulations will allow employees to take one week’s unpaid leave…
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April
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill

The Bill will give the Competition and Markets Authority the power to…
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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 will be permitted for part-year and irregular hours workers only for…
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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 will be 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
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations in respect of packaging reporting come into…
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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

It is anticipated that from 6 April additional protection for employees who…
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May
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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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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June
Food Standard’s Agency annual report of food standards
Food Standard’s Agency annual report of food standards

The report will look at whether UK food standards have improved, declined…
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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 will enable small employers (fewer than 50 employees)…
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July
Climate and sustainability corporate reporting for listed companies
Climate and sustainability corporate reporting for listed companies

FCA rules requiring climate-related disclosures by listed companies will be updated once…
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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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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 duty for employers to take reasonable steps to…
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October
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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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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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
UKCA Marking
UKCA Marking

UKCA marking: 2024 had been expected to be the last year in which…
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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
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
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
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023

The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 is expected to reduce…
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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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