UK Knowledge Collection | Online safety, financial promotions, and regulating precision-bred organisms
Published on 26th Apr 2024
Welcome to this week's Knowledge Collection
As the implementation of the UK online safety regime continues, our Regulatory Outlook takes a look at Ofcom's third call for evidence to inform its codes of practice and guidance on the additional duties applicable to categorised services under the Online Safety Act, and at the ICO's response to Ofcom's consultation on protecting people from illegal harms online.
In June, we will be jointly hosting a seminar focusing on children's safety online, including an introduction to the UK Online Safety Act, the Irish Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 and the EU Digital Services Act, and featuring a policy specialist from Ofcom as guest speaker.
Scrutiny of social media and the role of influencers is also intensifying in financial services. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has finalised guidance on financial promotions on social media, with which firms and influencers will need to comply. Our Insight considers its overlap with advertising rules on financial products contained in the CAP Code.
In addition, this month's Regulatory Outlook considers developments including regulated procurement (with the government's announcement that the new regime will go live on 28 October, giving businesses six months to prepare), product conformity marking (as the government introduces regulations permitting use of either the CE mark or the UKCA mark in Great Britain) and food law, as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) looks to reform the authorisation process for regulated food and feed products. Our Insight looks in more depth at how the FSA plans to deregulate and speed up authorisations for precision-bred organisms.
Recent Insights
Regulatory Outlook
This month's look ahead at regulatory developments coming down the track, including in advertising and marketing, product regulation, consumer law, data, sanctions and ESG.
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Employment Law Coffee Break
This edition includes the implications of a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal case for equality, diversity and inclusion policies and unfair dismissal, and considers settlement agreement provisions relating to pensions.
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UK FCA guidance leaves little creative freedom for financial promotions online
There are two aspects to complying with the financial promotions regime: being able to legally communicate a financial promotion and complying with any content or conduct of business rules when doing so.
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Funds Focus | First quarter 2024
The EU's changes to the regulation of alternative investment fund managers, the UK sustainability disclosure regime and greenwashing rules, and the FCA's supervisory scrutiny of asset managers and its guidance on implementing the Consumer Duty.
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The UK is developing its approach to deregulating gene editing in plants
Last year, the UK enacted new legislation in the form of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. The FSA's recent activity illustrates its commitment to translating the deregulation benefits of the Act into practice.
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Upcoming Events
Supply chains and logistics | How to achieve the right balance of cyber risk and delivery reward
30 April | 10:00-10:30
How can businesses enhance cybersecurity and reduce legal and operational disruptions that detract from driving business growth and innovation?
Register here >
Supply chains and logistics | Engage with distressed supply chains to maintain continuity and mitigate risk
2 May | 10:00-10:30
A discussion of how organisations can mitigate risk in an increasingly complex business environment. The session will include how to spot signs of distress and deal with distressed suppliers, contingency planning, and distressed M&A.
Register here >
Biodiversity net gain – pitfalls and disputes
9 May | 09:15-10:00
Our property disputes and planning and environment experts discuss areas of risk in relation to the new biodiversity net gain regime, including breach of planning conditions, contractual disputes and environmental enforcement considerations.
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The future of infrastructure: is now a critical tipping point for development and investment decisions?
22 May | Institution of Mechanical Engineers, SW1 | 16:00-18:00
Lord Andrew Adonis, the former Labour transport secretary and founding chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, will deliver his view on the future of the UK and European infrastructure markets, followed by a panel discussion with leading industry participants on market opportunities and networking drinks.
Child Safety Spotlight: navigating new online safety legislation
20 June | One London Wall | 08:30-10:30
Osborne Clarke and Mason Hayes Curran will jointly host a seminar on online child safety, with a guest speaker from Ofcom. The seminar will focus on the new regulatory regimes to safeguard children in the UK and EU and what the obligations mean in practice.
