UK Knowledge Collection | Gene-editing regulation, consumer law enforcement, and cyber resilience

There have been interesting developments recently in the regulation of gene-edited plants in Europe, as the EU adopted new rules (with a lighter touch than before) and the High Court allowed a judicial review claim against English regulations on the basis of irrationality. Businesses in the precision bred organism sector will be interested to see how the case develops, as the court did not immediately determine the consequential remedies flowing from the decision, and will hear further submissions from the parties. The impact of negotiations for a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement on future regulation is also an unknown.

In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority has issued its first round of fines under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 for breaches of consumer law. Our Insight considers what the regulator's enforcement activities signal about its current approach to business non-compliance. 

The broad cyber security governance requirements imposed by the NIS2 Directive have a particular impact on businesses in the life sciences and healthcare sector. Next week, our webinar will offer sector-specific guidance (including for companies entering or expanding in the EU) on how the rules could affect operations, regulatory risk profiles and compliance roadmaps.

Recent Insights

English High Court finds government acted unlawfully in introducing regulations on lighter-touch approach to gene editing

The judge found the secretary of state had misunderstood his legal powers, which materially constrained his decision-making, and led to a lack of further enquiries about mandatory labelling.
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EU approves lighter-touch regulation of gene editing in plants after long legislative process

The new two-tier regime moves to regulating gene-edited plants based on their final genetic make-up. Certain plants obtained by new genomic techniques will face lighter-touch regulation outside the existing, more onerous rules on genetically modified organisms.
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CMA issues first fines under its new UK direct consumer enforcement powers

The regulator's current stance signals a potential shift towards imposing financial penalties for consumer law breaches, rather than negotiated undertakings with businesses.
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Employment Law Coffee Break: Employment law reforms, constructive knowledge of disability, and data protection complaints

Our update explores the steps employers should take to comply with new duties on preventing workplace harassment, an EAT case on constructive knowledge of disability, and the new statutory data protection complaints regime.
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Marketinglaw

This edition includes recent ASA rulings on footballers in gambling ads and their appeal to under-18s, revised tobacco and vaping advertising frameworks, and rulings on affiliate posts, skincare claims, gender stereotypes, and carbon-footprint claims in farming.
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Events

NIS2 in the life sciences and healthcare sector

15 July | Webinar | 10:00-11:00
An overview of the affected companies, requirements, and best practices for structuring NIS2 implementation projects on an international level.
Register now >