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The UK Government is consulting on revised, consolidated Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. The changes are largely just consolidating the previous regulations, however, there are changes that bring the law up-to-date with recent case law. These include: • changes or extensions to Schedule 2 development may now require an Environmental Impact Assessment; • extending screening to all changes or extensions to Schedule 1 development; • a requirement to give reasons for negative screening; and • a simplification in relation to Multi stage consents.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published proposals to identify eleven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and possible candidates for authorisation. Interested parties are invited to comment on the eleven proposals by 14 October 2010.

A FACTORY is looking to increase its green credentials by generating its own solar and wind power.

A GROWTH in sales of smartphones have helped boost revenues and put Cardiff hi-tech venture IQE into the black.

Electronic commerce constitutes an important means to promote cross-border trade, improving the accessibility of Europe’s population to more varied products, to more qualitative products, and exerting greater price competition in the on-line and off-line world. However, 10 years after the adoption of the 'directive concerning certain legal aspects of information society services and, in particular, electronic commerce' the so-called Electronic Commerce Directive, the development of retail electronic commerce remains limited to less than 2% of European total retail trade.

On 3 August 2010, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced the Government’s decision to establish an independent body to monitor and enforce the revised Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) which came into force on 4 February 2010.

Relevant to UK-based importers, wholesalers and manufacturers of feed for both food-producing and non-food producing animals; farming businesses throughout the UK that produce feed materials In addition to existing requirements, you will have to: • Ensure that complementary feeds do not contain levels of additives of more than 100 times the maximum level of additives allowed in complete feeds. • Ensure that any claim for a specific composition or function of a feed can be easily understood by purchasers and checked by enforcement officials. If asked to support your claim, you must be able to provide either documented company research or scientific evidence in the public domain. • Include in a product's labelling all additives which have a maximum inclusion rate. This declaration must include the additive name and/or identification number, the added amount, and its functional group.

The Welsh Assembly Government believes that Wales should be at the forefront of the transition to a low carbon economy and wants to make it as easy as possible for Welsh businesses to make the most of the opportunities associated with renewable energy. In order to do this, renewable energy installers must be accredited to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, however many are restricted by the cost and complexity of this process, which is presenting a real barrier. This new programme will address this issue and will ensure that businesses in Wales have the opportunity to reap the economic benefits associated with the move to renewable and low carbon energy solutions.

Small businesses can benefit from the provision of €110m of European funding to help complement their core research capability via the European Commission’s ‘Research for SME’s programme’. This scheme provides financial support to SMEs to outsource research and technological development to 'RTD performers', such as universities and allow the SMEs to increase their research efforts, extend their networks, and acquire technological know how.

Press Release:Commissioner Ma¡ire Geoghegan-Quinn announced nearly 6.4 billion euro of European Commission investment in research and innovation.

Press Release: Commission welcomes European Parliament approval of new legal framework for Intelligent Transport Systems The European Commission has welcomed the European Parliament vote in favour of a new legal framework for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).

The new directive entitles self-employed women and assisting female spouses of self-employed workers for the first time to maternity benefits and creates autonomous social protection rights for assisting spouses of self-employed workers.

Passengers will enjoy easier access to information about their rights when travelling by rail or air thanks to a Europe-wide publicity campaign in 23 languages launched by the European Commission.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), released an IT tool that enables companies to check which information from their registration dossiers will be made public on the internet.

Partial guarantees to UK banks in support of UK exports.

This website has been created by the European Commission's DG for Taxation and Customs Union, in close collaboration with representatives from national customs administrations and trade. It aims to clearly communicate information for traders on the safety and security amendment to the Community Customs Code.

European Commission welcomes multilingual website on successions to keep citizens informed on national laws. To help citizens become better informed about these laws, the Council of the Notariats of the EU, with the support of the European Commission, launched a website on 28 June 2010

From 14 May 2010 new rules apply to hauliers when undertaking cabotage after an international delivery in the EU.

From 20 August 2010, power consumption and other requirements start to apply to television sets and monitor.

From 1 July 2010, informational and efficiency requirements start to apply to refrigerating appliances.