Research and analysis

Assimilated Law Parliamentary Report: December 2025 to June 2026 executive summary

Updated 14 July 2026

This executive summary duplicates that in the PDF version of the Assimilated Law Parliamentary report: December 2025 to June 2026 report.

1. Executive summary

The REUL Act received Royal Assent on 29 June 2023. Section 17 of the Act requires the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on REUL and assimilated law at the end of each 6 monthly reporting period, the last of which ended on 23 June 2026. Under the legislation, this report must:

(a) provide a summary of the data on the assimilated law dashboard

(b) set out the “progress that has been made in revoking and reforming” assimilated law during the reporting period to which the report relates

As this is the final report, section 17 of the REUL Act explicitly removes the requirement to set out the government’s future plans to revoke and reform assimilated law.

To begin with, this report provides an update on the Retained EU Law (REUL) and assimilated law dashboard. The dashboard provides the public with information on the amount of assimilated law (formerly known as REUL) and where it sits across departments. The dashboard was updated on 14 July 2026 and reflects the position as on 23 June 2026.

Since the previous update to the dashboard, 133 assimilated law instruments have either been revoked or reformed. In addition, some departments have themselves undertaken further analysis and amended their record of assimilated law. As a result, a total of 2,700 instruments have now been revoked or reformed.

The report then provides a list of revocations and reforms enacted during the reporting period (24 December 2025 to 23 June 2026). Since the end of the last reporting period, the government made 20 Statutory Instruments (SI) using powers under the REUL Act 2023 and 5 SIs using a combination of powers under the REUL Act and other legislative powers. A further 21 SIs were made under other domestic legislation amending assimilated law. This is detailed below under ‘Detailed list of Revocations and Reforms’. This government has continued to use the powers in the REUL Act to deliver on its priorities. For example, The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements (Amendment) Regulations 2026 make amendments to the 2018 Package Travel Regulations to increase consumer protections and support business. Additionally, The Electronic Commerce (Amendment and Consequential Provision) Regulations 2026 remove the country-of-origin principle (CoOP) to ensure an even playing field for UK businesses.

This government’s commitment to fostering a pro-business environment is reflected in assimilated law reforms such as The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment, etc.) Regulations 2025. These were made under the Environment Act 2021 and create a fair and level playing field for all businesses placing electricals onto the UK market. Additionally, The Energy (Euratom Decisions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2025 revoke 37 pieces of inoperable assimilated law, helping to tidy up and modernise the UK statute book, as well as making it easier for businesses and consumers to understand what law applies to them. Similarly, this government’s commitment to effective regulation that supports innovation is reflected in recent reforms to assimilated law such as The Food and Feed (Regulated Products) (Amendment, Revocation, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025. These reforms create a streamlined and effective regulatory process which deliver benefits to business and consumers and were made under the REUL Act.

The pro-business reforms set out above will also benefit small businesses. The Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Plan, launched in 2025, completes the government’s integrated approach to economic transformation, working alongside the modern Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy to drive sustainable growth across every part of the country and make the UK the best place to start and grow a business.

Since 2024, this government has reformed assimilated law to support economic growth and reduce regulatory burdens. In March 2025, the government committed to reducing the annual administrative burden of regulation by 25% by the end of the Parliament. Strong progress is already being made; £2 billion in net annual administrative savings have been identified, with £1.5 billion delivered and £0.6 billion in progress - putting us over a third of the way towards the £5.6 billion target. Reducing administrative burdens will save businesses time and money, allowing them to focus on growing and innovating. An example of a reform to assimilated law that supports this ambition is The Provision of Services (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026. This statutory instrument supports an open, transparent, and proportionate licensing regime to reduce costs for business.

The government published the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy in 2025, a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential. Our goal is a system that protects consumers, supports businesses, and drives economic opportunity – ensuring that the UK remains an attractive place to invest and innovate. As part of the Strategy, we are targeting government investment towards our eight-growth driving sectors:

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Clean Energy Industries

• Creative Industries

• Defence

• Digital and Technologies

• Financial Services

• Life Sciences, and

• Professional and Business Services

An example of a reform to assimilated law which supports this vision in the Life Sciences sector, as well as wider government priorities, is The Human Medicines (Amendment) (Modular Manufacture and Point of Care) Regulations 2025, made under The Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021. These implement a new point of care regulatory framework for manufacturers, intended to pioneer access to innovative treatments such as personalised medicines with a very short shelf life.

This government is committed to accelerate Net Zero and boost economic security and resilience. A reform to assimilated law which reflects this is The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Household Tumble Dryer Products) Regulations 2026. This Statutory Instrument raises the minimum energy performance standards of tumble dryers and includes labelling reforms to enable consumers to make better informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2026 support the government’s Clean Power Mission and the acceleration of offshore wind deployment across the UK.

Section 17 of the REUL Act does not require the dashboard to be updated beyond the final reporting period 24 December 2025 to 23 June 2026. As such, tracking and reporting of assimilated law, including publication of the Assimilated Law Dashboard will now end. After a 6-month post publication period, the dashboard will be decommissioned, however, the downloadable CSV file, which houses the entirety of the data (without visualisations), will remain available on gov.uk.

On 23 June 2026, the majority of REUL Act powers expired. The government can continue making changes to assimilated law to support the national interest through other domestic legislation. Looking ahead, the government will progress reform, where desirable, of assimilated law to ensure regulation creates the conditions for sustainable growth and is aligned with consumer and environmental protections.

Finally, the report confirms that no further restatements or codifications related to so-called “section 4 rights” were required in this reporting period.