Foreign Policy Legislation

Legislative framework for international relations, diplomatic affairs, treaties, and overseas development assistance.

The Trade (Mobile Roaming) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations lower the maximum wholesale rates that mobile service providers may charge each other for roaming services in specific territories covered by the UK-EEA EFTA Free Trade Agreement.

The order reduces the price caps for making telephone calls and sending SMS messages, and establishes a two-stage reduction for data transmission charges.

These changes apply to mobile network operators providing roaming services under the international agreement between the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

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The National Security Act 2023 (Designated Bodies) Regulations 2026

These Regulations designate three specific organizations as "designated bodies" under Part 1 of the National Security Act 2023, subjecting them to the legal framework regarding foreign power threat activity.

The order applies to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), and the Russian GRU Volunteer Corps.

By listing these entities in a new Schedule 6A of the Act, the Secretary of State triggers specific national security offences and investigative powers related to these groups throughout the United Kingdom.

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The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Commencement and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026

These Regulations bring the remaining sections of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 into legal effect on 9 August 2026.

The instrument activates statutory requirements for the collection, utilization, and disclosure of marine genetic resources, while establishing a phased transitional period for mandatory pre-collection notifications.

It applies to any 'relevant person' as defined by the Act who intends to collect biological material from areas outside national jurisdiction.

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The Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment etc.) Order 2026

This Order expands the scope of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 by designating ten new categories of licensable marine activities conducted in areas beyond national jurisdiction, such as the high seas and the international seabed.

It requires British vessels, aircraft, structures, and 'United Kingdom persons' to obtain licenses for activities including depositing substances, scuttling vessels, constructing works, dredging, and using explosives in these areas.

The Order also establishes specific exemptions for activities that do not require environmental impact assessments and aligns the new regulations with existing Scottish marine legislation and cable maintenance protocols.

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The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Meaning of “Digital Sequence Information”) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State, define 'digital sequence information' (DSI) specifically concerning marine genetic resources for the purposes of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026, establishing that DSI means DNA or RNA sequences held in digital format; the legislation comes into force on 10th July 2026 across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, supporting the UK’s implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.

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The European Communities (Immunities and Privileges of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission) (Revocation) Regulations 2026

These Regulations formally revoke older statutory instruments from 1985, 1999, and 2001 that conferred specific immunities and privileges upon the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission under previous European Communities law, exercising powers granted by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, with the revocation taking effect on March 31, 2027, to allow time for successor legislation to be enacted to maintain continuity.

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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.

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The Caribbean Development Bank (Eleventh Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) Order 2026

Published: Wed 25th Mar 26

This statutory instrument, The Caribbean Development Bank (Eleventh Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) Order 2026, formally approves the Secretary of State making payments on behalf of the UK Government, up to £21 million, as a further contribution to the Caribbean Development Bank's Special Development Fund (Unified) for its eleventh replenishment cycle, pursuant to a resolution adopted in March 2025 and exercising powers granted under the International Development Act 2002.

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