News & Articles
Government Updates: US Tariffs and Key Policy Announcements
We’re sharing the latest government updates to keep members informed of important changes affecting our industry. These include the suspension of the US de minimis exemption for low-value shipments, set to take effect on 29 August 2025, as well as news on border checks, trade, sustainability, intellectual property, and more.
US Tariffs
As some of you will know, the US has suspended the de minimis exemption for all low-value commercial shipments, ending the previous $800 threshold. This means that the vast majority of goods from the UK entering the US, will now face full customs processes, including tariffs and any administrative fees. We are in close contact with our US counterparts to understand the details around the implementation of the new global rules, so that we can best support businesses in the UK.
This change will come into effect on 29 August 2025. If you have not done so already, we would be grateful if you could update your members/colleagues on these changes in any communications going out ahead of this date (we will be sharing more information by email in the coming days that could be used when cascading this information to your members).
Please continue to share your concerns about/ impacts of US tariffs on your business/industry with us. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at retailandconsumergoods@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Further Announcements and Calls for Evidence:
Extra border checks cancelled ahead of UK-EU deal
The forthcoming deal will slash red tape, cut costs for businesses, and speed up the smooth flow of agrifood trade at the border.
First published.
UK businesses to benefit as online platforms pay their fair share to recycle electrical waste
Bill for recycling waste electricals to shift towards online marketplaces to create a level playing field for UK retailers
First published.
£310 million in new funding for economic growth unveiled as part of Plan for Change.
First published.
Provisional decision: review of the SME Banking Undertakings 2002
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is consulting on its provisional decision to release the remaining provisions of the SME Banking Undertakings 2002.
First published. See CMA updates below
Senior business leaders bolster Treasury board
Chancellor bolsters business expertise at the Treasury with three new appointments to the Board of Directors.
Board of Directors changed to non-executive board members.
Attached are the application form and the latest edition of CZ Business Champion Getting to know you Q&A (This showcases the value of joining the programme). This has also been promoted in the CLC’s latest newsletter.
There are over 280 members across and beyond the sector. One of the benefits of joining is a quarterly forum where members come together to share best practice, build relationships and learn from each other. This is an entirely free programme with no cost or contract involved.
Applications are due by 1700 on Monday 8th September (details on the form). New successful Business Champions will be announced at the CZ celebration event on 6th October.
Regulations, Compliance, Supply Chains, Procurement, and reporting requirements
Procurement Act 2023 guidance documents – Manage phase
These documents are intended to provide technical guidance and help with interpretation and understanding of the Procurement Act 2023
Updated the document: Guidance, Payments Compliance, Notices Removed Annex A and updated paragraph 45
Regulations: timber and FLEGT licences
Guidance for businesses trading in timber and timber-related products.
Due dilligence guide updated.
Find contracts in technology and research and development with the Ministry of Defence
A list of places to find Defence contracts and funding in the technology and innovative research and development (R&D) space.
Updated ‘Guidance for suppliers new to government’ and ‘Current opportunities’. ‘Added ‘Hellios’.
Ministry of Defence Commercial – Commercial X
Information for suppliers about Commercial X in the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Updated ‘How to get involved as a supplier’.
IP
Events which have an intellectual property or business focus.
New business events added to calendar.
New intelligence gateway for IP crime submissions
This will help to improve the national IP Crime intelligence picture and help police focus their resources where they’re needed most.
First published.
Intellectual Property Enterprise Court: a guide to small claims
Detailed guidance on how to take an intellectual property dispute worth under £10,000 to court.
Updates made across the whole guide
Goods Movement
Data requirements for a Customs Goods Manifest
Check the data requirements needed for a Customs Goods Manifest.
First published.
Get proof your goods have Union (EU) status
Find out if your goods have Union (EU) status and how to get Proof of Union status (PoUS) if your goods are moving to ports or airports in the EU or from and to Northern Ireland.
Information about proving Union status with a Customs Goods Manifest has been added.
Moving licensed goods into or out of Northern Ireland
Find out what you need to do if you move licensed goods into or out of Northern Ireland, including by import, export or transit.
The guidance has been updated as the Certificates Exchange System (CERTEX) will come into effect from 15 September 2025
Government discounts for electric vans and trucks extended
Plug-in van and truck grant extended to at least 2027.
First published.
Trade, investment, and export support
Rules of origin under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) are improving
This guidance provides the technical detail of improvements to rules of origin under the DCTS, as announced in the UK Trade Strategy.
First published.
Information on what National Treatment of Conformity Assessment Bodies means for conformity assessment bodies and businesses.
Footnote added after ‘under the terms of the CPTPP agreement’ linking to the UK’s CPTPP Accession Protocol for more information on UK accession terms.
Ceri Morgan Appointed Trade Commissioner for Europe
Ceri Morgan Appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe
First published.
The UK and Republic of Korea held a Senior Economic Dialogue in Seoul on Monday 18 August 2025.
First published.
Sanctions
Who is subject to financial sanctions in the UK?
HM Treasury Notice, Cyber, 12/08/2025; HM Treasury Notice, Iraq, 12/08/2025; and HM Treasury Notice, Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons, 12/08/2025 added. HM Treasury Notice, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 15/08/2025 added. HM Treasury Notice, Russia, 20/08/2025 added
CMA updates
Revised draft markets regime guidance
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is inviting views on further amendments to the markets regime guidance.
Collaborating with other businesses
Complying with competition law while working with other businesses.
First published.
Review of the SME Banking Undertakings 2002
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) consulted on a review of those provisions within the SME Banking Undertakings 2002 which remain in force.
Final outcome published.
Skills, employment, and training
Find out what T Levels courses include and how they work with other qualifications including grading and UCAS points.
Updated the T Levels that are available, industry placement guidance and details of support services for students, providers and employers.
Assessment of priority skills to 2030
A report on the future employment demand across 10 key sectors and the education pathways for the priority occupations in these sectors.
First published.
How to contact DWP partnership teams for England, Scotland and Wales.
The named contact for the South East has been updated.
Sustainability, Resources and Waste, including EPR (packaging)
Defra Circular Economy joint engagement forum reminder: defracollectionandpackagingreform.cmail19.com/t/t-e-gijtiyd-trhridjluy-u/
Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE): producer responsibilities
If you put EEE on the UK market you must follow rules on both the EEE you sell and the EEE that becomes waste (WEEE).
This guidance has been updated to reflect the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2025. EEE producer definition has been updated to include an online marketplace (OMP). Additional requirement for OMP producers to provide a methodology to determine the amount of EEE placed on the market originating from non-UK suppliers. Updated the number of product categories from 14 to 15 to reflect the addition of e-cigarettes and vapes. Section on ‘Non UK based producers’ has been rewritten, including not needing to register as a producer if your legal entity is not established in the UK and you are supplying EEE indirectly to the UK. This includes the list of requirements of the first legal entity based in the UK that is making EEE available to the UK market. Recommendations are also given on supply chain checks to ensure the correct legal entity in the UK meets these requirements. Reference to UK based producers that put EEE onto the market of other member states has been removed has no longer relevant due to EU Exit, and reference to recast of the WEEE Directive was removed as it’s no longer relevant due to EU Exit.
WEEE: apply for approval as a producer compliance scheme
Apply to be a waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) producer compliance scheme and operate legally under your approval.
Changes to the section on annual charges for schemes approved by the Environment Agency to remove charge set 1 details and replace with a link to Waste (Miscellaneous) (England) Charging Scheme 2018. Details relating to charging schemes for the 2019 compliance year has been removed as this is no longer relevant. Removed a link to guidance on submitting proposals for the PCS balancing system as this is now outdated. Added the requirement for an OMP to provide a breakdown of EEE from non-UK based suppliers and the requirement to provide a methodology annually to reflect the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2025. Update made to one of the sanctions for non-compliance that prosecution under criminal law at a magistrates court is now an unlimited fine to reflect the 2015 law that removed the £5,000 cap that used to limit the maximum fines magistrates could impose. The contact name for the environmental regulator for England has been updated from Producer Responsibility Regulatory Services (PRRS) to WEEE Producer Responsibility.
WEEE: collecting used and waste electrical and electronic equipment
Guidance for designated collection facilities (DCF) and charities on how to comply with waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste regulations.
Updated the definition of ‘private household’ WEEE to remove outdated references to ‘nature and quantity’ testing. Removed section on ‘WEEE and the Controlled Waste Regulations’ due to outdated reference to ‘nature and quantity’. Removed link to ‘BSI guide on collecting, moving and treating household appliances such as fridges containing fluorocarbons or hydrocarbons’ as this has since been withdrawn.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): reuse and treatment
Apply to become an approved authorised treatment facility (AATF) and how to operate legally under the approval.
Corrected the charges for AATFs by removing all references to out of date information and replacing with a link to Part 2 of the Waste (Miscellaneous) (England) Charging Scheme 2018. Removed reference to the European Commission and WEEE Directive as no longer relevant due to EU Exit. Updated the contact information for the environmental regulator for England to WEEE Producer Responsibility (not Producer Responsibility Regulatory Services). Updated one of the sanctions for non-compliance which is prosecution under criminal law at a magistrates court with an unlimited fine for each offence, to reflect the 2015 law that removed the £5,000 cap that used to limit the maximum fines magistrates could impose.
Regulations: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Guidance for manufacturers, importers and distributors (including retailers).
Updated the extent of obligation to include operators of online marketplaces (OMPs) who place EEE on the UK market from non-UK based suppliers. Updated the type of business who can join the DTS to include solely online retailers and exclude vape retailers.
Report the amount of EEE you place on the market
When you must report the amount of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) you place on the market and how to do it.
Update made to clarify when EEE has been placed on the market by7 an overseas producer to reflect Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2025. The types of transfer of ownership of EEE (when placed on the market) now include transfer from UK importers or distributors who are the first entity established in the UK, making items from outside of the UK available and transfer from a manufacturer, distributor or retailer outside the UK, or formal representative, direct to the final UK user or consumer. Updated the contact information for England’s environmental regulator to WEEE Producer Responsibility (not PRRS).
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: generate a packaging data file
If you need to submit packaging data under extended producer responsibility for packaging, this spreadsheet can help you generate a valid packaging data file
This update removes the generator for 2024 data. Resubmissions and late submissions should also use the generator for 2025 data, the only one that remains on the page.
Industry experts selected to join key pEPR advisory groups
PackUK is pleased to announce the members appointed to 3 of its key advisory groups.
This guidance explains how to report organisation details in order to register for extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. This is a legal obligation for organisations that are affected by EPR for packaging.
This updates clarifies that a leaver code is mandatory when reporting ‘leavers’ in mid-year groups and subsidiary changes. Corrected ‘residual type code’, ‘turnover’ and ‘tonnage’ to show these are also mandatory.
Packaging waste: 2026 registration and accreditation process for reprocessors and exporters
Process to apply for mandatory registration and voluntary accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging for 2026.
First published.
The Monitoring and Reporting Regulation, as modified by the UK ETS Order, allows nationally reported data to be used by operators as default factors in specific circumstances.
Added Carbon emission factors and calorific values from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2025.
Environmental permits: when and how you are charged
How the Environment Agency charges for activities that need an environmental permit and the charges you must pay.
Added section 6.16 on the water industry enforcement levy. Also added that no mid-year adjustments apply to this levy.