Reform of customs treatment of low value imports into the United Kingdom: The UK Government is consulting on significant changes to the customs treatment of low-value imports ("LVIs"), following the announcement in the 2025 Budget that the £135 customs duty relief will be removed by March 2029. The Government states that these reforms aim to modernise processes, improve fairness, and reduce fraud and abuse of the rules. View >
Chilled Food Association issue new guidance on Listeria monocytogenes in ready to eat foods: The guidance which has the support of the Food Standards Agency and British Retail Consortium is timed to help prepare businesses for a change to an EU Regulation, applicable from 1 July 2026 in the EU and other jurisdictions applying EU law including Northern Ireland. The guidance explains how to assure food safety of ready to eat foods with respect to L. monocytogenes including setting and evidencing shelf life and compliance with the amendment to criterion 1.2b brought in by Regulation 2024/2895 namely that ready to eat foods that support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes must either meet the legal microbiological criterion of not detected in 25g, (which will apply for the entire shelf-life of the product, not just while it is under the control of the manufacturer as it did previously) or demonstrate that levels will not exceed 100 cfu/g throughout shelf-life.
CFA > BRC >
Scottish Government proposes greater freedom to Local Authorities to set visitor levies: The Scottish Government has issued a Visitor levy amendment Bill to allow councils to set fixed rate levy charges for overnight stays and to vary these by type of premises, location and time of year. Under the Bill Councils would have the power to apply levies on a per person or per night basis. The Bill also clarifies that the chargeable transaction is the initial purchase. View >
Road safety strategy and proposals published: The Department for Transport has published a new Road Safety Strategy with reduction in alcohol drink driving limit, increased penalties for a range of driving offences, mandatory eye tests for older drivers and training period for learner drivers and has also responded to a consultation on pavement parking committing to provide greater powers to Local Authorities. Responses are required to consultations under the strategy by 31 March.
Policy paper: road safety strategy > Press release: Road Safety Strategy > Press release: keeping pavements clear > Consultation outcome: managing pavement parking > Pavement parking consultation: government response > Open consultation: licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles > Open consultation: changes to penalties for motoring offences > Open consultation: minimum learning period for learner drivers > Open consultation: eyesight testing for older drivers >
