Access Protocol meaning

STOP PRESS This document is currently being revised to take account of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA 2025), which updates the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. For further guidance on the compliance impact of DUAA 2025, see Practice Note: Data (Use and Access) Act 2025—compliance implications. This document reflects the UK GDPR framework. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, references and links to the GDPR are to the UK GDPR (Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2016/679). The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) confers several rights on data subjects, including a right to data portability. A data subject may submit a request to an organisation to exercise that portability right at any time. This is not, however, a blanket right to move data—it applies only in defined circumstances. There are strict deadlines for responding to such requests. See Practice Notes: Rights of data subjects How to handle data subject requests This Flowchart outlines a procedure for assessing portability requests...

In this issue A review of key cases in 2025 Decision to prosecute and alternatives to prosecution Criminal procedure and evidence Proceeds of crime Bribery, corruption, sanctions and export controls Environmental offences Financial services and pensions offences Health and safety and corporate manslaughter offences Local authority prosecutions Money laundering Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information A review of key cases in 2025 Headline corporate crime matters in 2025 included the UK Supreme Court overturning the convictions of two traders jailed for rate manipulation; the anti-fraud agency deploying a seldom‑used legal power to recover criminal cash; and the first conviction for sanctions breaches. See News Analysis: The biggest financial crime cases of 2025. Decision to prosecute and alternatives to prosecution SFO compliance guide highlights early remediation is key On 26 November 2025, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO)...

Note: the CPRC no longer distributes the underlying papers with the minutes, and consequently no documents explaining the matters discussed are supplied alongside this News Analysis. A copy of the minutes can be found here: Minutes of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee. Welcome, apologies and introductory remarks (item 1) The minutes of the 9 May 2025 meeting were approved (for more detail, see News Analysis: Minutes of the CPR Committee meeting—9 May 2025). From the action log, the following items were recorded: Forms and standard orders—various strands of work remain in progress, and a new working group will be created. The Chair and Secretariat will finalise the finer details outside the committee. Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024—drafting was agreed under item 3 at the Minutes of the CPR Committee meeting—9 May 2025, and the finalised draft is now circulating within the sub-committee for approval. A handful of substantive issues have emerged but are not anticipated to require consideration by the full committee....

SPS Agreement In a noteworthy step for the Irish agri‑food sector, the EU and the UK have committed to progressing a Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area by way of what is being termed an ‘SPS Agreement’. This announcement was made at the inaugural UK‑EU Summit, which took place on 19 May 2025. The arrangement encompasses a number of areas; however, in this piece we focus on the accord reached regarding sanitary and phytosanitary goods (‘SPS products’). The intention behind the SPS Agreement is to permit the great majority of animals, animal products, plants and plant products to move across the EU and Great Britain without the requirement for controls. The Windsor Framework would continue to apply in Northern Ireland, enabling it to keep dual access to both the UK’s domestic, internal market and the EU’s single market. Change to the current position At present, EU and UK relations are governed by the UK‑EU Withdrawal Agreement, the Northern Ireland Protocol (and the ensuing Windsor Framework), and the UK‑EU...

Services of general economic interest (SGEI) The notion of ‘services of general economic interest’ is not expressly defined in the EU Treaties or in secondary legislation. Its contours are set out in Article 14 TFEU and, in particular, Article 106(2) TFEU, which provides that undertakings entrusted with an SGEI remain subject to the TFEU unless applying those rules would impede the particular task assigned. Further, the development of intra‑Community trade must not be affected in a manner that runs counter to the EU’s interest. Protocol No 26 to the TFEU highlights the importance of SGEI and affirms the discretion of Member States in defining them. It also clarifies why there is no single EU definition: SGEI vary between Member States due to differing needs arising from distinct historical, geographical, cultural and social circumstances. The role of SGEI also evolves with technological progress and societal change. Member States must ensure: quality safety affordability equal treatment universal access protection of user...

Mediation has become increasingly prevalent as a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the UK since the Access to Justice Report. It is consistently promoted by the courts as part of the overriding objective under CPR 1.4(2)(e). The courts also now hold explicit powers to direct parties to ADR under CPR 3.1(2)(m), and parties are required to consider it under the Practice Direction – Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols. This is further reflected in the Chancery Guide, para 10.1. While the Civil Procedure Rules do not provide a specific pre-action protocol for probate and trust disputes, the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists has issued a Code to support practitioners. It states at 2.18 that parties should at all times evaluate whether ADR is suitable and note that the court may now order participation in ADR. ADR takes various forms, including: Mediation Early neutral evaluation (court-based and private) Financial dispute resolution (court-based and private) Expert determination Arbitration Not...

This Practice Note explores particular matters within Ofcom’s regulatory framework concerning voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology, offering pragmatic guidance on addressing shifts in this field. VoIP now underpins widespread carriage of voice calls online. More and more, both individuals and businesses adopt it as a lower-cost substitute for traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) services. The regulatory position In an early communication on the topic, Ofcom, the UK telecommunications regulator, identified three aims it regarded as central when shaping policy for VoIP services: fostering innovation in a technology-neutral manner ensuring consumers are well informed maximising the availability of access to emergency services Providers of communications services (including VoIP providers) must comply with Ofcom’s General Conditions of Entitlement (GCs). The GCs are updated from time to time; however, they underwent a major review and structural overhaul in 2018, with the stated purpose of updating them to reflect Ofcom’s current priorities and concerns, and making them simpler and clearer for industry...

The Law Society’s template residential sale agreement, which includes the Standard Conditions of Sale (Fifth Edition—2018 Revision), can be obtained here. NOTE: A separate LexisSmart® Forms subscription is necessary to view this document. This model contract is relied almost universally in residential conveyancing matters and adheres to the Law Society Conveyancing Protocol...

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