Foreign Policy Legislation
Legislative framework for international relations, diplomatic affairs, treaties, and overseas development assistance.
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the Enterprise Act 2002 to create exceptions within the merger control regime for newspaper enterprises involving foreign powers.
They introduce specific circumstances under which a foreign power's holding of shares or voting rights in a newspaper owner does not constitute control or influence, primarily focusing on situations involving state-owned investors with limited holdings and associated persons with minimal ownership stakes.
The changes aim to streamline the merger review process while addressing concerns around foreign influence.
The Nuclear Installations (Compensation for Nuclear Damage) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Nuclear Installations (Compensation for Nuclear Damage) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 to implement the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC).
The amendments remove a lower liability cap for claims under the CSC, unifying the liability limit with the one applied under the Paris Convention.
This increase in potential compensation is aimed at better protecting victims of nuclear incidents while aligning UK law with international standards.
Consequential changes across several sections of the 1965 Act ensure consistency and functionality in managing compensation claims.
The OTC Derivatives Risk Mitigation and Central Counterparties (Equivalence) (Switzerland) Regulations 2025
The OTC Derivatives Risk Mitigation and Central Counterparties (Equivalence) (Switzerland) Regulations 2025, effective January 1, 2026, establish equivalence between the UK and Swiss regulatory frameworks for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives and central counterparties (CCPs).
These regulations determine that under specified conditions, Switzerland's legal, supervisory, and enforcement systems are equivalent to the UK's under EMIR, specifically concerning risk mitigation techniques for uncleared OTC derivatives and the oversight of Swiss-authorized CCPs.
These equivalencies are subject to conditions detailed within the regulations, ensuring compliance with UK standards for initial and variation margin requirements, among other stipulations.
The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) and Persons Subject to Immigration Control (Housing Authority Accommodation and Homelessness) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend existing UK legislation to ensure that British nationals returning from government-advised evacuations are eligible for housing and homelessness assistance in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The amendments waive the habitual residence test for a six-month period following evacuation, allowing immediate access to housing for those who meet specific criteria defined by the regulations.
These criteria include possessing leave to enter or remain in the UK, not being subject to a 'no recourse to public funds' condition, and not being sponsored under certain visa schemes
The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amend several EU regulations concerning civil aviation safety.
Key changes include modifications to pilot licensing (specifically the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence), training requirements for pilots and organizations, and air operations, particularly concerning cost-shared flights.
The regulations also introduce a new balloon pilot license structure and clarify the roles and requirements for flight instructors and examiners.
Several corrections to previous regulations are also included.
The Asian Development Bank (Thirteenth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 2025
The Asian Development Bank (Thirteenth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 2025 authorizes a maximum £120 million UK contribution to the Asian Development Fund's thirteenth replenishment.
This payment is made in accordance with agreements between the UK government and the bank, as outlined in Resolution No. 427.
The order also allows for the redemption of non-interest-bearing notes issued by the Secretary of State related to this contribution.
The order received parliamentary approval and was made under the International Development Act 2002.
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Suitability for Fixed Term Recall) Order 2025
This Order modifies the Criminal Justice Act 2003, changing the conditions for automatic release of recalled prisoners in England and Wales.
It introduces stricter criteria, including a new schedule of offenses that disqualify prisoners from automatic release after 28 days (or 14 days for sentences less than 12 months).
The revised criteria consider factors such as age, sentence length, offense type, terrorist-related activity, and multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) levels.
The amendments aim to improve public safety by retaining those deemed a higher risk in custody for extended periods.
The Inter-American Investment Corporation (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2025
The Inter-American Investment Corporation (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2025 approves a payment of up to 106,000,000 USD to the Inter-American Investment Corporation.
This payment is to support the corporation's increased authorized capital stock, following the adoption of a new business model and capitalization plan (Resolution CII/AG-5/24).
The order also covers associated payments and ensures that the value of the initial payment is maintained.
The Secretary of State is authorized to make the payment and the Treasury approved the order.
The Driving Licences (Exchangeable Licences) Order 2025
This Order, effective July 31, 2025, designates the Republic of Moldova's driving licenses as exchangeable with UK licenses under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The order specifies that exchangeable Moldovan licenses authorize driving category B vehicles and details conditions regarding automatic transmission.
It extends to England, Wales, and Scotland, and includes a Schedule listing other countries with exchangeable licenses.
The order allows for smoother transitions for drivers and simplifies administrative processes, relying on pre-existing legal frameworks.
The Road Vehicles (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Road Vehicles (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amend Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/79, updating language in Article 5 to use terms such as 'must' instead of 'shall have to'.
The regulations introduce a new Annex X outlining the procedure for extending GB type-approvals for eCall in-vehicle systems operating over circuit-switched networks.
They also allow EU-approved eCall components and separate technical units to be treated similar to GB-approved parts, enabling exemptions from some tests.
The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025
This order amends the Terrorism Act 2000 by adding Palestine Action, Maniacs Murder Cult (MMC), and Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) to the list of proscribed organizations.
The order cites the Secretary of State's belief that these organizations engage in terrorism, and it was approved by both Houses of Parliament.
The order also includes an explanatory note which clarifies that the entry for Palestine Action refers specifically to the UK based organization, and declares no significant impact on public or private sectors is expected, therefore a full impact assessment was not considered necessary.
The Haiti (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Haiti (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2022 regulations to incorporate UN Security Council Resolution 2752 (2024).
This resolution expands the arms embargo on Haiti to include a broader spectrum of military goods and related items.
The amendments update definitions, clarify prohibitions on the transfer of military technology and the provision of associated financial services or technical assistance, and introduce new offenses relating to these broader sanctions.
The regulations also modify existing penalties to match the updated prohibitions.
The Multinational Top-up Tax (Pillar Two Territories, Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes and Accredited Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Multinational Top-up Tax (Pillar Two Territories, Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes and Accredited Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2025 Regulations to enable retroactive application of tax specifications related to the OECD/G20 Pillar Two model rules.
This change allows tax specifications to take effect from a date prior to their publication, aiming to improve the effectiveness of the multinational top-up tax.
The amendments are explicitly authorized by the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023.
The Customs (Preferential Trade Arrangements and Tariff Quotas) (US) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective June 30, 2025, amend existing UK customs rules to incorporate a new preferential trade agreement and tariff quota for US beef, stemming from the General Terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal concluded on May 8, 2025.
The changes add a new quota to the Customs (Tariff Quotas) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 and include the new agreement details within the Customs Tariff (Preferential Trade Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
The regulations apply to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Treasury Debt) Regulations 2025
The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Treasury Debt) Regulations 2025 amend existing UK sanctions regulations concerning South Sudan, Central African Republic, Yemen, and Libya.
These amendments introduce exceptions to asset freezes and fund prohibitions imposed on UN-designated persons, allowing for the payment of Treasury debt owed to these individuals, provided certain conditions are met concerning the origin of the debt and the transfer of funds to a specified account.
The aim is to balance sanctions enforcement with the UK's financial obligations.
The National Security Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
These regulations, the second set under the National Security Act 2023, bring into effect Part 4 of that Act, specifically the foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme.
This scheme starts on July 1st, 2025, and applies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The regulations cite the power conferred by section 100(1) of the 2023 Act and provide for detailed commencement information.
An impact assessment is available online and in hard copy.
The National Security Act 2023 (Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Exemptions for Certain Foreign Power Investment Funds, Education, Government Administration and Public Bodies) Regulations 2025
These regulations, enacted under the National Security Act 2023, exempt specific categories of activities from the foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme.
The exemptions cover certain foreign power investment funds focused primarily on overseas investments, educational arrangements supporting students in the UK, administrative and technical services provided by foreign powers, and arrangements involving UK public bodies (excluding those related to political influence).
The aim is to streamline the registration process while maintaining national security.
The National Security Act 2023 (Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Publication) Regulations 2025
These regulations mandate the Secretary of State to publish information from the National Security Act 2023's foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme on a public website. Publication includes details of registered foreign activity and foreign influence arrangements, subject to exceptions for national security, crime prevention, individual safety, and commercially sensitive information.
The information remains published for up to ten years, depending on the arrangement's duration.
The regulations specify precisely which information must be made public for each registration type.
The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2025 revise the 1995 Antarctic Regulations to reflect decisions from four recent Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
The regulations update the lists of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments (AHSMs), adding new sites and revising existing descriptions.
Several ASPAs and AHSMs have been removed, with revised descriptions provided for others.
New sites are added, along with updated geographical coordinates and descriptions that improve management and conservation.
The Register of Overseas Entities (Annotation) Regulations 2025
The Register of Overseas Entities (Annotation) Regulations 2025 empower the registrar to add notes to the register concerning dissolved overseas entities or those that have failed to comply with information requirements.
These annotations enhance transparency and aid enforcement of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 and the Companies Act 2006.
The regulations extend to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and came into effect on June 30, 2025.
The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order modifies the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 to extend whistleblower protection to individuals disclosing information about sanctions-related activities undertaken by the Secretaries of State for Business and Trade, Transport, and the Treasury.
This expansion ensures greater accountability and transparency within the government's sanctions regime.
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Social Security Co-ordination) (Compatibility) Regulations 2025
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Social Security Co-ordination) (Compatibility) Regulations 2025, effective June 4, 2025, ensure the compatibility of UK domestic law with retained EU law concerning social security coordination.
Specifically, it mandates compatibility between several UK insolvency and debt arrangement acts and relevant articles of EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, preserving international agreements on cross-border social security and debt recovery.
The Scotland Act 1998 (Agency Arrangements) (Specification) (Recognition of Qualifications) Order 2025
This Order, made under the Scotland Act 1998, specifies functions of the Scottish Ministers related to the UK National Information Centre (UK ENIC) for recognizing UK and non-UK qualifications.
It allows the Scottish Ministers to enter into agency arrangements with a Minister of the Crown to manage this service, including contracting and fee administration.
The functions are linked to international agreements on qualification recognition, such as the 1997 and 2019 Conventions.
The Order extends to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and takes effect on July 1st, 2025.
The Aviation Security (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Aviation Security (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective June 23, 2025, amend existing aviation security legislation.
Specifically, they remove Chapters 3 (aircraft security) and 7 (air carrier mail and air carrier materials) from Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998.
The regulations apply to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and were signed by Mike Kane, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport.
The Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station (Amendment) Order 2025
The Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station (Amendment) Order 2025, effective April 28th, 2025, amends the 2015 Order.
It clarifies the definition of "processed municipal solid waste" within the 2015 Order by including waste types specified in several EU decisions (2000/532/EC, 2001/118/EC, 2001/119/EC, 2001/573/EC, and 2014/955/EU).
This change addresses an application for non-material change, aiming for better clarity in waste processing regulations within the power station's operation.
The Energy (Euratom Decisions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2025
The Energy (Euratom Decisions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2025 revoke 37 obsolete instruments, mostly related to the UK's former Euratom membership.
These regulations also revoke legacy transitional provisions concerning environmental assessments for electricity and pipeline works.
The changes simplify UK energy law, remove redundant provisions, and align the legal framework with the post-Brexit regulatory environment.
The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2019 Syria sanctions regulations.
Key changes include updating the definition of the 'Assad regime', revising the regulations' stated purposes to include promoting Syrian peace and accountability for human rights abuses, and altering designation criteria for sanctioned individuals and entities.
The amendments also significantly reduce the scope of sanctions, particularly those limiting trade, financial services, and the aviation sector, to facilitate economic recovery in Syria.
The regulations remove obsolete provisions related to previous sanctions on the Syrian regime and replace references to 'Syrian regime person' with references to a newly defined 'Governing Authority of Syria'.
The Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2025
The Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2025, effective April 9th, 2025, amends the Consular Fees Order 2012.
It increases the fees for Emergency Travel Documents and Emergency Passports from £100 and £75 respectively to £125.
The Order applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and no significant impact on the public, private or voluntary sectors is anticipated.
The Multinational Top-up Tax (Pillar Two Territories, Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes and Accredited Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes) Regulations 2025
The Multinational Top-up Tax Regulations 2025, effective April 21, 2025, specify territories and domestic taxes aligning with the OECD/G20 Pillar Two model rules.
These rules aim to ensure multinational corporations pay a minimum level of tax, preventing tax avoidance and promoting a fairer system.
The regulations list specific territories and taxes as ‘Pillar Two territories’ and ‘qualifying domestic top-up taxes’ effective from various dates in late 2023 and early 2024, also allowing HMRC to specify additional entities through notice publication.
The Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs (Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, effective April 21st, 2025, amend and modify EU regulations on drivers' hours and tachographs to reflect the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU, as per the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Key changes include adjusting the scope of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 and amending its definition of "special regular passenger services." Furthermore, the regulations modify Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, extending the record-keeping period to 56 days and making consequential amendments to Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/403.
The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Belarus) (Revocation) Order 2025
This Order, effective April 1st, 2025, revokes the 2018 Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement agreement between the UK and Belarus.
The revocation applies to income tax, capital gains tax, corporation tax, and comparable Belarusian taxes, impacting tax years 2025-26 onward for income tax and capital gains tax, and financial years beginning April 1st, 2025, onward for corporation tax.
The stated reason for the revocation is not detailed in the Order itself.
The Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2025
The Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2025, effective April 7th, 2025, updates the rates of pensions and allowances payable under the 1983 Scheme to civilians injured or killed during World War II. The amendment replaces the tables in Schedules 3 and 4 outlining these rates, adjusting them to current values.
The order applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) Order 2025, effective March 13, 2025, adds Trinidad and Tobago to the list of countries whose citizens require a transit visa to pass through the UK without entering.
A transitional provision exempts those who already had bookings for arrival before April 23, 2025, and arrived by that date.
The Order is supported by Sections 41 and 166(3) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
The Football Spectators (2025 FIFA Club World Cup Control Period) Order 2025
The Football Spectators (2025 FIFA Club World Cup Control Period) Order 2025 establishes a control period from June 9th to July 13th, 2025, under the Football Spectators Act 1989, for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. This enables the use of summary measures to detain and refer individuals to court for banning orders, passport surrender requirements, and specific bail conditions.
The order applies to England and Wales.
The Judicial Pensions (European Court of Human Rights) (Amendment) Order 2025
This Order amends the Judicial Pensions (European Court of Human Rights) Order 1998 to update pension provisions for judges of the European Court of Human Rights.
The amendments clarify the interaction between UK pension schemes and the Council of Europe scheme, ensuring that ECHR judges retain pension benefits under the UK's Judicial Pensions Regulations 2022, even if they opt into the Council of Europe's scheme.
It also defines 'Pensionable Earnings' for ECHR judges and ensures their UK judicial office is treated as a qualifying office under the 2022 Regulations.
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025 designates numerous central government bodies as 'designated bodies' for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.
This designation is for their inclusion in the supply estimates and resource accounts of their respective government departments.
The order covers various government departments and agencies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
It is based on powers granted by the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 and includes consultations with devolved administrations.
The Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025
These regulations establish the fee structure for services related to recognizing overseas qualifications in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
They detail charges for statements of comparability, qualification reference statements, bundle services (standard and refugee-focused), and subscription packages to a qualification database.
Payment is made to the Secretary of State or a designated organization, with provisions for refunds.
These regulations replace the 2024 regulations, addressing drafting errors and incorporating feedback from devolved governments.
The Protection of Trading Interests (Authorisation) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Protection of Trading Interests (Authorisation) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2021 Regulations by extending an existing authorization for Three Crowns (Services) LLP to comply with Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96 until March 31, 2027.
The regulations came into force on February 28, 2025, and apply across the UK. A full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the lack of anticipated effects on the public or private sectors.
The Space Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025
The Space Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025 exempt authorized personnel from allied armed forces, international military organizations, and related entities from needing operator or range control licenses for sub-orbital spaceflight activities conducted for national security purposes.
These exemptions apply when activities originate from Crown land, land controlled by His Majesty's forces, or specific ships or platforms in UK territorial waters.
The regulations were created under the Space Industry Act 2018, following public consultation and parliamentary approval, and also amend the Space Industry Regulations 2021.
The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2025
The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2025, made under the Terrorism Act 2000, officially recognizes ‘Majeed Brigade’ as an alternative name for the proscribed organization ‘Baluchistan Liberation Army.’ This action aims to improve counter-terrorism efforts by closing legal loopholes and facilitating effective prosecution and monitoring of the group’s activities, regardless of the name used.
The order extends to the entire United Kingdom and took effect the day after parliamentary review.
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective April 6, 2025, extend statutory neonatal care pay eligibility under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to individuals working abroad, mariners, and those employed on the continental shelf.
The regulations specify conditions for eligibility, including employment location, employer liability for national insurance contributions, and periods of employment in the EEA. They also clarify the treatment of individuals under existing UK and EU social security legislation and establish procedures for compliance with time limits, particularly for those temporarily outside of the UK.
The Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025
The Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025 implements crucial updates to UK procurement law, including revised threshold amounts for contract values, amendments to international trade obligations, and comprehensive changes to primary and secondary legislation.
The regulations modernize procurement processes, strengthen security measures, and establish transitional provisions while ensuring alignment with international agreements.