ONS SIC review

The revision of UK Standard Industrial Classification (UK SIC) has been announced on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website, following a public consultation and the revision of related international classifications. This follows on from a global consultation begun in 2019 to determine the new Global (ISIC) and European (NACE) classification systems with which UK SIC will be consistent with at the class (4-digit) level. 

This revision will enable us to update the current SIC2007 classification to better reflect the UK economy, but only adding or amending subclasses (also known as 5-digit level) and potentially some classes (4-digit level). Colleagues invite you to help them develop SIC2026. 

The proposed SIC 2026 framework has been divided across a team of cross-government coordinators according to activity expertise areas. DBT are the designated coordinator for the areas of SIC listed in the attachment.  As Coordinators, colleagues in the department will collate, review and quality assure proposals in collaboration with you and all our stakeholders and conclude by submitting an agreed, consolidated and assured SIC Revision Proposal(s) to the ONS, in line with the set proposal criteria. These will be reviewed via both internal (ONS) and external (cross-government) governing bodies.   

ONS’ preliminary version of the SIC2026 Framework, is published on the ONS website. This is a starter guide to help contributors and coordinators focus on where to begin. Proposals will be raised using this as a baseline for how the final SIC2026 could look; work continues in some areas, and we are sharing details on these in the accompanying Framework Guidance document. 

If you are interested and have the capacity to respond, please see the attached criteria and complete the proposal template, and return it to SICRevision@businessandtrade.gov.uk as soon as you can, but a reminder that the focus is only on adding or amending subclasses/ at 5-digit level and some 4-digit level codes.

The Care Leaver Covenant

The Care Leaver Covenant is a national initiative that has delivered on behalf of the Department of Education since 2018 by a social enterprise organisation called Spectra. The central idea behind the Covenant is that care leavers often lack the networks and social capital that many other young people benefit from, so wider society has a role to play in supporting their transition to adulthood and independence. The Covenant aims to bring together organisations from private, voluntary and public sectors to sign up to the Covenant with a pledge of practical support.  This support might include employment opportunities, work experience placements, or discounts on goods and services.   

To find out more, please visit the Care Leaver Covenant website. https://mycovenant.org.uk/

CMA consults on proposed changes to its merger remedies approach

Comprehensive refresh seeks to ensure merger remedies are effective, provide greater certainty for businesses and allow more deals to be cleared.

First published

IP

New signs notified under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention

New signs are published online by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This occurs every six months at the end of March and September.

New signs notified under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention updated.

Goods Movement

Apply for a manual release of certain plant, animal and food products

Use form SPS1 if the Border Trade Matching Service (BTMS) cannot process an automatic release of your sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods on the Customs Declaration Service.

The Border Trade Matching Service (BTMS) formerly Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) manual release request form has been updated to remove the option to use the EU Certificates Exchange System (CERTEX) system.

Trade, investment, and export support

Trade remedies notices: countervailing duty on PET polyester from India

Trade remedies notices published by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade relating to the countervailing duty on PET polyester from India.

‘Trade remedies notice 2025/16: countervailing duty on Polyethylene terephthalate originating from India’ added to documents.

Maps of UK Freeports

These maps show Freeport locations in the UK, their outer boundaries and the Freeport tax sites within them.

The map of Anglesey Freeport dated 20 March 2025 replaces the previous map of Anglesey Freeport dated 13 November 2024, and a map of the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone has been added.

Update on Enhanced UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement negotiations

An update following the second round of negotiations on an Enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Turkey.

First published.

Overseas business risk for Macao

Information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Macao.

Annual review: updated multiple sections.

TRA maintains trade remedy measures on PET from India

The Secretary of State has accepted the TRA’s final recommendation to maintain countervailing measures on PET from India for a further five years.

First published.

TRA recommends keeping anti-dumping measure on aluminium foil

The TRA has proposed that an anti-dumping measure on imports of aluminium foil in rolls from China be kept in place for a further five years.

First published.

Sanctions

Who is subject to financial sanctions in the UK?

On 28 January 2026, the OFSI Consolidated List is closing and the UK Sanctions List will be the only source for all UK sanctions designations. See ‘Details’ section.

HM Treasury Notice, Global Human Rights, 14/10/2025 added.

HM Treasury Notice, Russia, 15/10/2025 added.

HM Treasury Notice, Russia, 16/10/2025 added.  

HMRC updates

Research and Development tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises

Find out about Corporation Tax relief you can claim for costs on R&D if you’re a small and medium-sized enterprise with an accounting period that starts before 1 April 2024.

Information has been updated to confirm that a company meets the intensity condition if its relevant Research and Development (R&D) expenditure is at least 40% of its total expenditure.

Understanding tax advisers and recognising potentially harmful practices

This aims to help UK taxpayers make informed choices about representation by tax advisers and other intermediaries.

First published.

OPSS updates

UK national certificates for level gauging systems

UK national certificates issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

First published.