Articles Published 21st April 2026

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Epsom) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 21st Apr 26

These Regulations establish a temporary restriction on the flying of unmanned aircraft below 1,700 feet above mean sea level within a 2 nautical mile radius centered near Epsom on June 5th and 6th, 2026, between 0700 and 1900 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time daily, due to the anticipated large public gathering for the Epsom Downs Derby, with exceptions made only for aircraft authorized by the Epsom Heliport temporary Air Traffic Control Unit or those operated by Surrey Police.

The Street Works (Charges for Occupation of the Highway) Order 2026

The Street Works (Charges for Occupation of the Highway) Order 2026, made by the Secretary of State for Transport, formally approves seven specified local highway authorities in England—Buckinghamshire Council, North Yorkshire Council, Oxfordshire County Council, and the London Boroughs of Camden, Enfield, Lambeth, and Merton—to implement charges for street occupation during works, in accordance with their respective Lane Rental Schemes under the 2012 Regulations, thereby allowing these authorities to manage road congestion caused by street works.

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, titled the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026, bring into force specific provisions of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 starting from May 15, 2026, primarily implementing Part 5 concerning permits for automated passenger services (except for sections related to civil sanctions and specific administrative procedures) and enacting Section 93, which mandates the provision of information about traffic regulation measures by authorities in England and Wales.

The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, made on April 20, 2026, and coming into force on August 12, 2026, amend Schedule 2 of the 2019 EU Exit Regulations to incorporate 'magnesium L-threonate monohydrate' into the list of approved mineral substances for manufacturing food supplements.

These regulations were enacted by the Secretary of State under powers related to exiting the European Union, apply to England for substance use, and extend to England and Wales for procedural purposes, following consultation compliant with EU food law principles.

The Data Protection Act 2018 (Code of Practice on Artificial Intelligence and Automated Decision-Making) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 21st Apr 26

These 2026 Regulations require the Secretary of State to direct the Information Commissioner to prepare an official code of practice offering guidance on good practice for processing personal data when developing and using artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems, specifically including provisions for children's data.

Furthermore, the regulations modify existing law by ensuring that any advisory panel considering the code must exempt aspects related to national security from their review process.

The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 primarily amend the 2019 Syria sanctions framework, which was established following the UK's exit from the EU, based on subsequent amendments made in light of the collapse of the former Bashar Al-Assad regime in December 2024.

These regulations revoke prohibitions on trade related to gold, precious metals, diamonds, and luxury goods, while making necessary technical corrections, such as re-inserting the definition of 'petroleum products' in Regulation 57 and updating terminology referring to the Syrian government.