Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy.

The updates covered in this month’s edition include (among others):

  • The government has published its COVID-19 summer 2021 road map for England, and updated step 4 working safely guidance.
  • Company is fined £910,000 after a self-employed lorry driver is killed while making a delivery.
  • Cinema chain is fined £750,000 after a man is killed by a reclining seat.
  • The UK and the EU have agreed to extend the Northern Ireland Protocol grace period for chilled meat products to 30 September 2021.
  • Court of Appeal held litigation privilege is still maintained even if a third party had misled as to the purpose of their information request.
  • Manufacturing company is fined (including under REACH) after workers are exposed to asbestos.
  • Waste and recycling sector commits to tackling modern slavery.
  • Health & Safety Executive announces an increase in worker deaths on the day the English football team competed in the semi-final of the Euros.
  • The Food Standards Agency publishes its revised Food Law Code of Practice.
  • DEFRA and Natural England launch the biodiversity metric.
  • Draft UK REACH amendment regulations have been issued and the HSE has also announced the opening of Lead Registrant functionality in UK REACH.
  • Amendments made to the UK law on waste shipments.
  • BEIS consults on strengthening the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.
  • Record £90 million fine for Southern Water following an EA prosecution.
  • Environment Agency Waste quality protocols review.
  • UK government publishes the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, consults on ending the sale of new non-zero emission HGVs, and issues a Green Paper on a new road vehicle CO2 emissions regulatory framework.
  • New guidance is issued on best available techniques for carbon capture.
  • Government consults on the technical details of plastic packaging tax.
  • DEFRA is consulting on the establishment of an “environmental review”.
  • Biffa Waste Services Ltd has been fined £1.5 million for illegal waste exports.
  • Royal Dutch Shell plc has confirmed that it will appeal the Dutch carbon emission ruling.
  • European Commission proposes a landmark “Fit for 55” package of climate and energy legislation.
  • European countries announce their intention to restrict PFAS.
  • New waste gas BREF for the chemical sector.
  • European Commission proposes a new General Product Safety Regulation.

For more detailed information on these developments, download a copy from our website.  You can also subscribe to ensure that you receive our most recent edition each month.