Health and Social Care Legislation

Regulations governing the NHS, healthcare provision, social care services, public health measures, and medical standards.

The Medical Devices (Amendment) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025

The Medical Devices (Amendment) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025 amend the 2002 Medical Devices Regulations by removing specific revocation dates for assimilated EU laws.

This action maintains the existing regulatory framework for medical devices in Great Britain, ensuring public health safety, by removing now unnecessary dates for the revocation of several EU regulations.

The regulations came into force on May 24, 2025, applying to England, Wales, and Scotland.

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025

These regulations, effective November 13, 2025, activate parts of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.

The Act governs the release and sale of precision-bred organisms, specifically focusing on plants within England, Wales, and Scotland.

The regulations specify which sections of the Act come into force, primarily those concerning the release, marketing, risk assessment, and production of food from precision-bred plants, and their enforcement.

The Transfer of Functions (Fire and Rescue Services) Order 2025

The Transfer of Functions (Fire and Rescue Services) Order 2025 transfers the responsibility for fire and rescue services from the Home Secretary to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, effective June 3, 2025.

This includes the transfer of all associated property, rights, liabilities, and ongoing processes.

The order clarifies the effective continuation of any ongoing actions and the use of existing documentation after this transfer of responsibilities.

Existing legislation is adjusted to reflect these changes, and the order makes clear that nothing in this order interferes with the activities of the devolved nations.

The Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025, effective May 30th, 2025, amend several sets of tribunal procedure rules.

Key changes include clarifying that tribunals can set aside decisions on their own initiative or applications by parties, and mandating written notification to all parties when a decision is set aside. Additionally, a specific amendment restores community patient rights regarding hearings in health-related cases.

These amendments improve procedural fairness and address issues identified in past legislation and case law.

The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective May 20, 2025 (with some exceptions), extend several transitional periods related to post-Brexit official controls on food, feed, animal health, plant health, and plant protection products.

The amendments postpone deadlines in Annex 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) Regulations 2021, and the Official Controls (Plant Health) (Frequency of Checks) Regulations 2022, delaying stricter checks on certain imported goods until January 31, 2027.

These changes aim to ease the transition to the new regulatory framework.

The Victim Support (Specified Roles) Regulations 2025

The Victim Support (Specified Roles) Regulations 2025, enacted under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, specify the roles of independent domestic violence advisors, independent sexual violence advisors, and independent stalking advocates.

These regulations mandate the Secretary of State to provide guidance on these roles, aiming to enhance support services for victims of crime. The regulations have a staggered implementation, with most provisions coming into force on May 9th, 2025, and one specific regulation effective February 2nd, 2026.

The legislation clarifies the responsibilities of these support roles, drawing existing legal definitions from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025

The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025, effective September 30, 2025, amend Annex 3 of (EC) No 1223/2009 to restrict methyl salicylate in cosmetics.

The regulation sets varying maximum concentrations based on product type, ensuring safe levels according to Scientific Advisory Group advice. A transitional period until March 31, 2026, allows existing stock to be sold.

The East and North Hertfordshire National Health Service Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2025

This order amends the 2000 Establishment Order for the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.

It changes the trust's name to include "Teaching," updates its functions to focus on providing health services, modifies the director structure by adding non-executive directors (one from the University of Hertfordshire), and removes outdated provisions relating to its operational date.

The changes aim to modernize the trust's governance and legal framework.