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.

These regulations amend the UK's implementation of the EU's Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021.

Specifically, they modify the permitted uses of Dechlorane Plus and UV-328, allowing their continued use in certain applications, such as aerospace, defense, and medical devices, until specific dates in 2030 and 2044.

The amendments also clarify permitted use for replacement parts and repairs within those applications.

The regulations ensure consistency with previous UK legislation (S.I. 2025/296).

The Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025 establish the system for levying light dues on vessels in UK waters.

These regulations replace the 1997 regulations, clarifying payment methods (periodic or per voyage) for different vessel types (tugs, fishing, pleasure vessels, and others).

They specify payment amounts based on tonnage or load line length, including minimum and maximum charges.

The regulations define key terms, detail the procedure for invoicing and payment, and outline exemptions for certain vessels, such as those chartered by the Government or used for sail training.

Previous regulations are revoked.

The Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective April 1st, 2025, amend the 2024 Regulations.

Key changes include updating the deadline for equivalence declarations from harbor authorities to the first day of the relevant year and increasing the national minimum wage equivalent rates for seafarers across various categories.

These amendments aim to improve seafarer pay and simplify administrative processes.

An existing impact assessment from the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and 2024 Regulations was used; no significant additional impacts are anticipated.

These regulations establish a permanent 50 mph speed limit on the northbound off-slip road at junction 7 of the M23 motorway in England and Wales, starting March 31, 2025.

The regulations cite the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as their legal basis and state that representative organizations were consulted.

An exemption exists if another speed restriction is already in place.

The regulations' enforcement is an offense under section 17(4) of the 1984 Act, and a full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the projected absence of significant impacts.

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 Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2025 establishes 500-meter safety zones around five offshore installations in UK waters.

Two installations were already in place when the Order was made and two more will be in place from March or April 2025.

The order is based on the Petroleum Act 1987 and proposals from the Health and Safety Executive, aiming to enhance maritime safety by preventing vessels from entering or remaining in these zones without consent or in accordance with regulations.

These regulations establish a system in England and Wales for offering approved courses as an alternative to prosecution for specified fixed penalty traffic offenses.

The regulations define eligible offenses, specify approving bodies (initially including police forces and UKROEd Limited, with police forces losing that power after two years), detail fee allocation percentages among policing bodies, course providers, and UKROEd, and prohibit offering courses to repeat offenders within three years of a prior offense.

The regulations come into effect on March 31, 2025.