Updated Topics: May 2007

Changes since 2004

This section gives you a quick guide to the legislation that has changed since the Pink Booklet was last published in 2004.

Every month we will include a section in Recently updated topics telling you what has changed since the site was last updated, enabling you to quickly identify new areas you may need to comply with.

Premises

Business rates

New Rateable Values came into force on 1 April 2005, based on 1 April 2003 rental values. These will be not revised again until 2010.

See Business Rates for more information.

Health and Safety

Fire safety

On 1 October 2006 there was a major change in UK fire safety legislation with the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This requires the “responsible person” in virtually all workplaces, including hotels, guesthouses and similar premises, to adopt a self assessment approach to fire safety in the workplace.

See Fire Safety (General) for more information.

Work at height

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers are required to avoid work at height where possible, or, where it cannot be avoided, to take measures to ensure that the person working at height does not fall.

See Hazards from Work Activities for more information.

Smoking

Under the Health Act 2006, smoking will be banned in enclosed public spaces and places of work, with some exemptions. The Act will place a legal duty on any person who owns or manages a smoke-free premises to ensure that guests, visitors and staff do not smoke on the premises.

See Smoking in Public Places for more information.

Adventure activities

Anyone who sells adventure activities intended for young people under 18 must be inspected and licensed under the Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations 2004. See Swimming, Gym and Outdoor Safety for more information.

Product Safety

The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 came into force on 1 October 2005 replacing the General Product Safety Regulations 1994.

The 2005 Regulations cover products made available to consumers for their use in the course of a delivery of a service eg the provision of a hairdryer in a hotel room or self-catering cottage for the guest’s own use.

See Product Safety for more information.

Food and drink

Food labelling

There are new food labelling regulations in place to cover genetically modified foods, the GM Food (England) Regulations 2004 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Traceability and Labelling) Regulations 2004.

See Food Labelling and Pricing for more information.

Food safety and hygiene

EC Regulation No. 852/2004 requires you to show that the food you provide is safe to eat. There are also temperature control rules laid out in the Food Hygiene (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2005.

See Food Safety and Hygiene for more information.

Liquor Licensing

On 24 November 2005 the Licensing Act 2003 became operationally effective and changed the regime for liquor licensing.

See Liquor Licensing for more information.

Guests and Staff

Accepting guests

The Sexual Orientation Regulations 2007 came into force on 30 April 2007 and outlaw discrimination against gay people by businesses and service providers. See Accepting guests for more information.

Discrimination in employment

• sexual orientation
• religion or beliefs
• age.

National minimum wage

The national minimum wage rates changed on 1 October 2006 - see National Minimum Wage for more information.

Family-friendly working

There have been changes to employees' rights in the areas of maternity and paternity rights, adoption leave, flexible working and parental leave. See Time Off for Parents for more information.