Whether to allow the substitution of high level radioactive waste for intermediate level waste when returning wastes produced by the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel to its country of origin.

This consultation seeks your views on proposals for the management of ENUM in the UK under self-regulation by the industry. ENUM is a system that links telephone numbers to Internet locations and identities such as email addresses, giving increased flexibility to electronic communications.

The DTI wishes to ensure that the proposed framework will result in open and fair competition and at the same time provide adequate safeguards to protect the public interest.

The consultation process includes a public workshop being held in London on 29 September 2004 to enable more detailed discussions. Further information available week commencing 23 August on the DTI e-communications website.

DTI has launched a consultation on a consumer strategy for the next 5 - 10 years. The consultation is aimed at a wide group of stakeholders including consumer and business representatives and enforcers.

The strategy sets out the practical actions required to bring the UK up to world-class standards for consumers.

Views are invited on proposals for empowering consumers, improving consumer representation and complaints handling in the regulated industries, clarifying the law, helping consumers and business to resolve problems, and improving the enforcement of a fair and safe trading environment.

This consultation document seeks views on proposals for how to calculate the turnover of a water enterprise.

This change will be required for the water merger regime set out in the Water Industry Act 1991 when it is amended by the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Water Act 2003. In this new regime turnover needs to be calculated for the purposes of determining whether the Office of Fair Trading has a duty to make a merger reference to the Competition Commission. Turnover is also relevant to the fee payable for regulatory scrutiny of a merger.

This consultation seeks views on proposals to simplify existing weights and measures rules for packaged goods. The main proposal is the revision of the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 1986 so that they are simpler and easier to understand.

Fairness for All: A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Consultation seeking views on Draft Directive applying to companies with share capital from different Member States and establishing common rules across the EU governing cross-border mergers.   

With this consultation, the Government seek views on proposals to amend the current Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997. The proposed amendments include a ban on the sale of air bombs, tightening up the definition of mini rockets and to change the Regulations in such a way as to encourage retailers to be sure that they are not supplying to those under the age of 18. In addition to the draft Regulations, the document also includes a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment for comment.

Further information on the Firework Regulations

This consultation seeks views on a Bill to consolidate the existing legislation on "Wireless Telegraphy". There are currently six Acts relating to this subject including the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. Replacing the existing legislation with a single Act will make the legislation much easier for all users of radio spectrum to understand and use. Some legal inconsistencies and problems have been removed from the legislation and the text of the Bill written so that it is easier to understand. A main object of the consolidation Bill is to reproduce the same legal effect as the current legislation. Thus no policy changes to the current legislation have been made. Specific questions on the Bill are raised in the consultation and general views on the Bill are sought.

The DTI is consulting on the draft legislation to implement the remedies recommended in the 2003 Competition Commission Report on the supply of extended warranties on domestic electrical goods.

The draft guidance relates to the draft Order as published in the consultation document. A finalised version of the guidance will be published with the final Order.

The Government is considering moving towards a focussed set of national productivity indicators in order to benchmark the UK’s productivity performance against its major competitors.  This consultation document, jointly conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry and HM Treasury, seeks the views of users and producers of productivity indicators, and other interested parties, on three areas:

• The proposal to move towards a focussed set of national productivity indicators that could be used to track progress towards the specific objective of raising the rate of UK productivity growth over the economic cycle and narrowing the productivity gap with its competitors.  In this consultation document the Government proposes a short set of indicators based around the ‘five drivers’ framework, and invites views.
• The methodology used to calculate the evolution of the productivity gap over time. 
• The applicability of using a similar set of regional productivity indicators.  How the approach taken for developing national productivity indicators could be applied at the regional level, and suggestions for possible indicators.

This consultation sought views and objective evidence on issues relating to director and auditor liability.

Consultation seeking views on the proposed directive dealing with the statutory audit of annual and consolidated accounts.

This consultation document seeks your views on a proposal for a European Directive that would place restrictions on the marketing and use of toluene and TCB. These proposals have been made in order to limit risks to the consumer and the environment from exposure to these chemicals.

This Consultation seeks views on proposals for the implementation of new anti-discrimination law under the European Employment Directive. It is the first consultation to focus exclusively on proposals for age legislation.

Background information on proposals to outlaw age discrimination.

Consultation document on the government's commitment to consider introducing common commencement dates to areas of UK national law.

Consultation document seeking views on the 7th European Union Framework Programme, a multi-annual programme funding collaborative research and development.

Consultation paper seeking views on draft EU Batteries Directive to inform UK Governments discussions with the European Commission

A consultation on the draft regulations for the operating and financial review and directors' report

This wide-ranging Directive aims to cut through much of the red tape restricting service provision in the EU. Its aims are to make it much easier for service providers to set themselves up in any EU member state and to provide services across internal EU borders.

This consultation seeks your views on the draft General product Safety Regulations 2005 that will implement the 2001 Directive. The Government is also inviting views on the partial Regulatory Impact Assessment, Annex D to the consultation document (Annexes at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/consultations.htm).

The Government seeks your comments on this consultation document, which sets out the proposed rules and procedures for the operation of the Union Modernisation Fund (UMF). The Fund is the result of a new power created by the Employment Relations Act 2004 allowing the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to make money available to help trade unions modernise their operations. Between £5 and £10 million (total) will be available, spread over a number of years. The DTI held extensive informal consultations with a broad range of stakeholders during the summer, and proposals in the public consultation document are based on feedback from these discussions.

A consultation document on the implementation of the accounting modernisation directive and arrangements for the use of IAS for companies and building societies.

The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Northern Ireland Equality Scheme sets out how the DTI aims to meet its statutory obligations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The DTI has carried out a systematic review (“screening”) of all of its policies, functions and activities in Northern Ireland in terms of the impact on equality of opportunity for the nine categories in the Act.

More information about the DTI's Northern Ireland Equality Scheme

The European Commission published a Directive on the re-use and commercial exploitation of public sector information on 1^st January 2004, which set out a minimum level of harmonisation of the rules and administration across the European Union.

More information about this consultation

In November 2003 the Government published a consultation paper setting out proposals for implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directives.

The 1964 Act lays down detailed rules for schemes that provide goods in return for trading stamps, but the Government does not believe that specific legislation is still needed in this area. Updating and harmonising the legal framework should reduce compliance costs for retailers and scheme promoters, while maintaining necessary protection for consumers.

Views are sought on the proposed changes to the Renewables Obligation as set out in this document, on the
attached Regulatory Impact Assessment and on the draft amendment Order.The Renewables Obligation Amendment) Order Statutory Consultation 

The European Commission has proposed a Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices. The proposed Directive includes a general prohibition on unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices and specific rules aimed at combating on misleading and aggressive practices. The aim of this consultation is to seek views to inform the UK Government position for the forthcoming negotiations.

Along with the consultation document, the DTI is also publishing an executive summary of a legal study it commissioned on the potential impact of adopting a 'duty to trade fairly'.

This consultation document seeks views on new draft Employment Tribunal Regulations and Rules. The primary purpose of the changes that are being proposed is to implement the Tribunal reform provisions of the Employment Act 2002. They also act upon some recommendations made by the Employment Tribunal System Taskforce. In addition, the opportunity has been taken to improve the structure of the legislation and recast it in more "English" terms to improve its user-friendliness.

This discussion document seeks your initial views on how the Government  and Devolved Administrations should transpose and implement the requirements of two related European Directives. These are the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (ROHS) Directive. 

The ROHS Directive deals with reserved matters relating to the European Single Market and will be implemented for the United Kingdom by DTI. The WEEE Directive deals mainly with devolved environmental matters.

Public consultation on modernising the policy for decommissioning the UK's nuclear facilities.

This public consultation paper invites views on proposals for a new type of company, the Community Interest Company (CIC). We welcome views on all aspects of the proposals outlined in the paper. A summary of the most important proposals is set out at page 24.

Investigation Powers: Parliament is currently debating the Companies(Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill. The Bill contains provisions to give company inspectors and investigators a power to enter and remain on premises used for the business of the company under investigation, subject to certain safeguards. This consultation is seeking views on the draft regulations relating to the safeguards and also seeking views on plans for commencement of the investigations provisions in the Bill.

Measuring Instruments Directive: Consultation on the approach to implementation

The Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) was agreed in April 2004 and covers a number of measuring instrument types, including gas and electricity meters, petrol pumps and automatic weighing instruments, which are regulated in the UK and many, but not all, of the other European Union (EU) Member States. We at National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML), together with DfT and Ofgem, are now required to implement the Directive. This is a consultation on our implementation plans. We welcome views on our proposals for implementation of the MID, information about the costs and benefits of implementation and, in particular, we are interested in exploring the opportunities for deregulating types of measuring instruments. We welcome comments from all who are interested in our proposals, especially manufacturers, consumers and enforcement officers.

Consultation on a possible exemption from the requirement for a gas transporters licence in respect of Star Energy Ltd's pipeline from the Humbly Grove gas storage facility. 

Further information on this Consultation can be found on the DTI's Energy Website.

These consultation proposals are drawn from Sir Michael Latham's recent
review of the operation of Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and
Regeneration Act 1996 and the Scheme for Construction Contracts (England
and Wales) Regulations 1998.

This consultation is a joint exercise between the DTI and Welsh Assembly
Government covering the primary and secondary legislation in both
jurisdictions. It is intended to build a general consensus on the way
forward. Should clear support for changes to the legislation be identified,
there will then be consultation on draft amendments.

The consultation covers changes to the Companies Act 1985 concerning summary financial statements.  It also covers three other minor amendments that are consequential on the introduction of International Accounting Standards.

European Company Law and Corporate Governance: Directive Proposals on Company Reporting, Capital Maintenance and Transfer of the Registered Office of a Company

Consultation on proposals to implement remedies recommended in the 2003 Competition Commission Report on the supply of prescription-only medicines (POMs) for veterinary use.

The consultation is intended to secure views on the scope, timing and form of an Order which is intended to remedy or prevent the adverse effects on the public interest identified in the Competition Commission's report and to implement the remedies suggested.

The Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) has for many years recovered the large part of its operating costs for regulating the civil nuclear industry from nuclear site licensees. The Government now intends to put these arrangements on a statutory basis, in order to provide OCNS with a power to raise fees from those organisations it regulates and to bring these arrangements into line with government policy on charging for regulatory services. This change requires secondary legislation. The intention to introduce statutory fees was mentioned as part of a public consultation that took place on the nuclear industry security arrangements in July 2002. At that time proposals for the detailed charging methodology had not been developed. Before finalising the fees regulations we are now seeking your views on the proposed methodology, as well as the draft regulations.

Company Law: Flexibility and Accessibility Consultation seeking views on proposals for powers to enable a special form of secondary legislation to be used, in defined ways, to reform and restate company law. 

Third stage public consultation on the UK's National Allocation Plan for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Further information can be found on the DEFRA Website.

A consultation document inviting interested parties to provide the information on the possible economic benefits and costs of the Law Commissions' proposals to reform partnership law. 

This consultation seeks views on proposals to introduce Regulations to protect consumers from unsafe cosmetic products and to prohibit, with specified timescales, the use of animals in the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients. The Regulations will also provide for enhanced labelling requirements.

This consultation seeks views on proposals to introduce Regulations to protect consumers from unsafe cosmetic products and to prohibit, with specified timescales, the use of animals in the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients. The Regulations will also provide for enhanced labelling requirements.

This consultation document seeks views on proposed amendments to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) rules.

The proposed amendments are designed to serve two purposes: first, to ensure consistency with proposed new Employment Tribunal Regulations and Rules, on which public consultation has recently been concluded; and, secondly, to effect some relatively minor but worthwhile improvements in procedure, including as regards the disposal of meritless appeals at the outset

This consultation invites views on European Commission proposals to amend the guidelines governing regional aid (which define assisted areas and aid intensities allowed within them) after 2006. Against the background of EU enlargement and European Council decisions to move towards less and better targeted state aid, the proposals would result in reductions in eligibility for such aid in the UK and the other longer standing Member States, though additional levels of aid would be permitted for SMEs outside the assisted areas. This consultation seeks the views of all interested parties to help inform the Government's response to the Commission proposals.

Responses Documents

Are available on the DTI's Consumer and Competition Policy Website .

This consultation seeks views on changes to three areas of the Distance Selling Regulations, to make them clearer and more workable for business and consumers. The changes will affect firms supplying goods and services to consumers and other stakeholders including enforcement authorities, advice agencies and consumers. One of the key provisions of the Regulations is a right to cancel the contract. We propose changes to how consumers are informed about this and how they may exercise their right.

Further information on Distance Selling

Rules have already been made for proceedings in appeals made to the Competition Appeals Tribunal. However, these rules do not address a new class of appeals which could arise under the Communications Act 2003, namely appeals containing price control matters which should be referred to the Competition Commission for determination. This document sets out the Department's proposals for making further rules to address such appeals and to make some minor corrections to the existing rules; and invites comments on these proposals

The Employment Tribunals Service is conducting this consultation.  This consultation document seeks views on proposed new Employment Tribunal claim and response forms.

The Employment Act 2002 allows the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to prescribe the forms to be used by a claimant to initiate an Employment Tribunal claim and by the respondent to reply to it.

The intention is that new forms will be finalised, in light of responses to this consultation, during the summer and be prescribed from 1 October 2004 with their use becoming mandatory only from 6 April 2005.

More information about this consultation

The End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive (2000/53/EC) came into force on 21 October 2000. It lays down measures which aim, as a first priority, at the prevention of waste from vehicles and, in addition, at the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of end-of-life vehicles and their components so as to reduce the disposal of waste, as well as at the improvement in the environmental performance of all the economic operators involved in the lifecycle of vehicles and especially the operators directly involved in the treatment of end-of-life vehicles.

A Consultation for exemption from the requirement for a licence to generate electricity:  Proposal to make the Electricity (Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) Order 2004.

Consultation on the provision of Alternative Dispute Resolution for disputes arising under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

A Consultation on the DTI's economic analysis on issues arising from increased competition in international services. This document highlights areas for possible further research and invites contributions from interested parties. 

A Consultation document on the future of Compulsory Stocking Obligations for oil.

The DTI has carried out an equality impact assessment which focuses on whether the National Minimum Wage has had a differential impact on any of the groups of people listed under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

This consultation seeks your views on a number of legislative options for improving the protection of consumers purchasing goods or services in their homes.

This consultation paper seeks views on the current operation of the individual opt out from the 48-hour working time limit in the UK and ways to improve its application.

This is a preliminary consultation paper and does not contain Government proposals for changes to law. As such this paper contains an initial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) and invites comment on a series of questions specific to the RIA, in addition to the issues raised in the paper. When legislative proposals are made we will undertake a formal consultation and produce a more comprehensive RIA to accompany it.

This information gathering process will help inform future policy developments and negotiation on the Working Time Directive.

On 30 July 2004, the Government published a consultation paper seeking views from stakeholders on the draft implementing Regulations and non-statutory guidance for WEEE and RoHS.

This consultation is seeking views on the content of a Carbon Abatement Technology (CAT) Strategy, which is currently being developed by the DTI's Cleaner Fuels Unit for publication at the end of 2004. There is a variety of issues to be considered around such a Strategy, covering not only technical development but also non-technical issues such as regulatory requirements environmental issues.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, has published a White Paper on Trade and Investment called, 'Making Globalisation a Force for Good'.

The White Paper deals with the question of how we can harness the power of globalisation, not only in the UK but in every country, especially in the developing world. It addresses the implications of globalisation nationally and internationally and sets out a vision of a world trading system which is fair as well as free.

View full details of the 'Making Globalisation a Force for Good' White Paper.

The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2003 statutory consultation on late payments.