Blog archive

The Advertising Standards Authority has published updated guidance on 10 February 2023 to include guidance on the use of environmental, sustainability, carbon neutral, net zero and so-called 'greenwashing' claims in advertising. It is warned the ASA will be taking proactive action immediately to address any unqualified claims.  This therefore remains an area that is under increased scrutiny particularly in the food and fast moving consumer goods sector.

Food & Agri Update Friday 17 February - inflation watch, Pork producers, strawberries, hen welfare & new medicines database. Gene editing reduces acrylamide. ASA rulings DeadHappy causes widespread offence in 18 hours & Huel has complaints upheld that it misled consumers on cost of living and like for like replacement. Finally, Mars chocolate vat incident could have been more of a sticky end than it was. #food #agri #update #legal #Huel #ASA #advertising #geneediting #acrylamide

In December 2022 the Government launched a consultation (which runs until March 17) on the following: New residential buildings over 30 metres (around 10 storeys) to be required to have 2 staircases.  It said that there would  be a very short transition period for this and the consultation encourages all developments to prepare for this change now            Sprinkler systems to be installed in new care homes of all heights (or as an alternative with a minimum of 10 beds as the threshold).

New government strategy sets out to increase access to medical technology...

Last week saw the announcement of a set of amendments to the NEC4 suite of contracts.  These amendments follow those issued in January 2019 and October 2020.

Two recent cases have explored when an offer made to an employee in return for ending their employment can be protected from disclosure to the tribunal...

On 7 February 2023, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was formed. The new Secretary of State, Michelle Donelan has a long to do list. This includes ongoing negotiations for UK association with Horizon Europe, measures to plug funding gaps and fulfilling the government’s aim of the UK being a science superpower. So, with all this change what is the government doing to ...

Valentine’s Day 2022 is the day which the Building Safety Act decrees is the date to be used to ascertain if a lease is a “qualifying lease” (see blogs by Kate Rushworth  and Lauren Michaelides as to what are qualifying leases and what that means for both landlords and leaseholders). The 14 February 2022 is known in the Act as  “the qualifying time”.

New Court of Protection guidance on ‘closed hearings’ and ‘closed material’...

Government priorities, food security, food inflation and costs for food producers. The Grocery Code Adjudicator annual survey. Advertising restrictions on alcohol proposed in Scotland and the ASA this week looks at Muff Liquor re social responsibility, obvious identification as an ad and the differences in social media posts of instagram and TikTok in assessing audience age. Finally, Lidl vs Tesco the battle for the trademark and a link to the recording of our M&R crisis management webinar #food #agri #inflation #costs #security #alcohol #advertising #restriction #update #lidl #tesco #crisis #scotland #asa

England’s Patient Safety Commissioner has released a report of her first 100 days in the role...

Government to fulfil 2018 pledge to give workers the right to request more predictable working conditions...