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.

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
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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August 1
Steel manufacturer fined £1.5 million after death of contractor
Steel manufacturer fined £1.5 million after death of contractor

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) has prosecuted steel manufacturer after a…
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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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August 4
DVSA published strategy for managing LGVs
DVSA published strategy for managing LGVs

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) published its new strategy for managing…
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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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August 18
HSE opens public consultation on restricting PFAS in firefighting foams
HSE opens public consultation on restricting PFAS in firefighting foams

HSE has opened a six-month consultation seeking views from stakeholders on restricting…
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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
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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August 19
HSE prosecutes chemical company after worker suffered burns
HSE prosecutes chemical company after worker suffered burns

A chemical company pleaded guilty to breaching s.2(1) Health and Safety at…
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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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August 20
CPS issues update for incoming failure to prevent fraud offence
CPS issues update for incoming failure to prevent fraud offence

On 1 September 2025, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023…
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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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August 28
Four individuals given custodial sentences for food hygiene offences
Four individuals given custodial sentences for food hygiene offences

The Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit and Southwark Council successfully…
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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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September 1
New offence of ‘failure to prevent fraud’ takes effect
New offence of ‘failure to prevent fraud’ takes effect

On 1 September 2025, the new corporate criminal offence of ‘failure to…
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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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September 9
PackUK publishes information to assist with pEPR invoices
PackUK publishes information to assist with pEPR invoices

Businesses considered large producers under the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme…
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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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September 12
Two companies fined for failure to notify HSE
Two companies fined for failure to notify HSE

HSE have successfully prosecuted two companies after they repeatedly breached the requirement…
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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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September 24
HSE launches workplace safety inspections for motor vehicle repair
HSE launches workplace safety inspections for motor vehicle repair

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently announced that it will conduct…
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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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September 25
Supermarket fined £130,000 for selling out of date food
Supermarket fined £130,000 for selling out of date food

On 14 February 2024 and 20 March 2024, Knowsley Council’s Environment Health…
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September 30
Company fined £600,000 after employee suffered burns
Company fined £600,000 after employee suffered burns

A company has been convicted of breaching Regulation 5(1) of The Provision…
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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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October 1
HSE opens calls for evidence to review LOLER and PSSR
HSE opens calls for evidence to review LOLER and PSSR

HSE announced the launch of two calls for evidence (CfE) to review…
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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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October 1
Transport operator issued with a temporary curtailment of its operating licence
Transport operator issued with a temporary curtailment of its operating licence

A transport operator of public service vehicles (PSVs) has been issued a…
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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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October 1
PackUK announces the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) roadmap
PackUK announces the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) roadmap

PackUK, the scheme administrator for the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR)…
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October 2
Waste Company fined £160,000 after an employee suffers life-changing crush injuries
Waste Company fined £160,000 after an employee suffers life-changing crush injuries

A waste and recycling company has been fined £160,000 after a loading…
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October 3
A railway operator has been fined £1 million following fatal droplight window incident
A railway operator has been fined £1 million following fatal droplight window incident

A railway operator pleaded guilty to s.3(1) of the Health and Safety…
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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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October 6
Company fined £800,000 following death of employee from jet hose explosion
Company fined £800,000 following death of employee from jet hose explosion

An industrial services company has been convicted of breaching its duties under…
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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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October 7
Company prosecuted and fined £240,000 after fatal incident caused by reversing HGV
Company prosecuted and fined £240,000 after fatal incident caused by reversing HGV

A manufacturing company has been prosecuted and fined £240,00 after an employee…
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October 10
HSE urges industry to check guidance following Swindon explosion
HSE urges industry to check guidance following Swindon explosion

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a press release requesting…
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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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October 10
Outcome of the EA’s Consultations on applying Environment Act 2021 Civil Sanctions
Outcome of the EA’s Consultations on applying Environment Act 2021 Civil Sanctions

Environment Agency (EA) launched a public consultation asking for views on proposed…
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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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October 16
Company prosecuted and fined £1 million following the death of an employee
Company prosecuted and fined £1 million following the death of an employee

A construction company has been fined £1 million after one of its…
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October 17
Waste management company fined £2.48 million after fatal injury to worker
Waste management company fined £2.48 million after fatal injury to worker

A waste management company has been convicted of a serious health and…
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October 20
Manufacturer prosecuted and fined £300,000 after a worker was crushed
Manufacturer prosecuted and fined £300,000 after a worker was crushed

A manufacturing company has been prosecuted and fined after a worker was…
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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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October 21
HSE inspections in Manchester city centre
HSE inspections in Manchester city centre

HSE has announced that a team of 12 inspectors will conduct unannounced…
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October 27
Food Standards Agency updates Food Law Codes of Practice
Food Standards Agency updates Food Law Codes of Practice

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the updated Food Law Code…
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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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