Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Legislation

13 statutory instruments made by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, newest first. Each one is explained section by section in plain English.

The Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 6) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 8th Sept 26

Reclassified Bhutan's trade status and updated UK customs reference documents to introduce new commodity codes and adjust tariff quotas.


These Regulations reclassify Bhutan's status under the UK's trade preference systems and update several reference documents that define import duties, commodity codes, and tariff quotas.

The order moves Bhutan from the list of least developed countries to the list of other eligible developing countries, while also updating the Tariff of the United Kingdom and documents governing authorised use, steel quotas, and duty suspensions.

These changes apply to any persons or businesses importing goods into England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, specifically affecting those dealing in machinery, electrical goods, and steel products.

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The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 4th Sept 26

Extended the time limit for bringing employment tribunal claims from three months to six months, effective from 1 October 2026.


These regulations bring into force the provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025 that extend the statutory time limit for bringing most employment tribunal claims from three months to six months.

The new timeframe applies to a wide range of disputes, including unfair dismissal, unauthorized wage deductions, and breaches of flexible working or maternity rights.

The instrument establishes 1 October 2026 as the commencement date and provides specific transitional rules to determine whether a claim falls under the old or new time limit based on the date the dispute arose.

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The Code of Practice (Electronic and Workplace Balloting for Statutory Trade Union Ballots) Order 2026

Published: Wed 29th Jul 26 Came into force: Tue 25th Aug 26

Activated a new industrial relations Code of Practice for electronic and workplace voting in trade union ballots starting 25 August 2026.


This Order establishes 25 August 2026 as the commencement date for a new Code of Practice governing electronic and workplace balloting for trade unions in England, Wales, and Scotland.

It directs trade unions to follow specific guidance when conducting statutory ballots for industrial action, political resolutions, and union amalgamations.

The Order applies to trade unions, employers, and independent scrutineers involved in statutory voting processes, while exempting ballots that were already underway or formally initiated before the effective date.

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The Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026

Expanded trade union balloting methods to include electronic, hybrid, and workplace voting while updating unfair dismissal protections.


This Order amends the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the Employment Rights Act 1996 to permit trade unions to conduct elections and industrial action ballots via electronic, hybrid, and workplace voting in addition to traditional postal methods.

It directs a 'responsible person' within the union to determine which voting methods are available for a given ballot based on specific security and accessibility criteria.

The Order applies to trade unions, employers, and independent scrutineers, mandating strict technical standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus certification, data encryption, and the maintenance of comprehensive audit logs.

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The Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment etc.) and the EU Machinery Regulation (Enforcement etc. in Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 24th Jul 26 Comes into force: Wed 20th Jan 27

Recognised products compliant with the EU Machinery Regulation for the Great Britain market and established market surveillance, conformity assessment, and enforcement regimes for the EU regulation in Northern Ireland.


This statutory instrument establishes enforcement and conformity assessment mechanisms in Northern Ireland for Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery, while amending Great Britain's machinery safety framework to recognise products complying with the EU regulation from 20 January 2027.

It restricts the territorial scope of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 to Great Britain, substitutes provisions governing CE and UK marking recognition to align with the new EU regulation, and ensures qualifying Northern Ireland goods maintain access to Great Britain.

In Northern Ireland, the instrument revokes the 2008 regulations, mandates the use of the UK(NI) indication when UK notified bodies perform conformity assessments, designates the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and local district councils as market surveillance authorities, establishes criminal offences and penalties for economic operator non-compliance, and creates procedures for sharing compliance information with the European Commission.

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