Before Brexit, taking a cat, dog or ferret to the EU was relatively simple: the Pet Travel Scheme meant an animal needed a microchip, vaccination against rabies, a pet passport and, for dogs, there were also requirements concerning tapeworm treatment.
Many planned projects have been delayed or scrapped. Adrian Odenweller and Falko Ueckerdt at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany tracked 190 projects globally that were due to begin operating in 2023. The researchers found that only 7% of these had begun operations as scheduled.
The UK announced Tuesday to tackle PFAS pollution, introducing an action plan to "understand where these chemicals are coming from, how they spread and how to reduce public and environmental exposure." The plan includes monitoring of rivers, lakes and seas, supporting a transition away from PFAS and consulting on a limit for drinking water. While some have called the plan "encouraging", others have said it doesn't go far enough.
The findings have raised concern among public health experts about the unintended consequences of EU-­mandated picture warnings designed to reduce smoking rates. The research, led by a team at the Technological University of the ­Shannon (TUS), examined reactions to one image of a woman exhaling cigarette smoke. It revealed that despite the intended purpose, to deter use, some of those surveyed reported ­positive emotional responses.
The EU now requires smartphone makers to include easy to read labels that indicate battery life and longevity, an IP rating, plus drop resistance and repairability scores for each new model.
Peter Mandelson highlighted the contradiction in Britain's approach towards EU regulations, emphasizing the need for beneficial alignment rather than dis-alignment that harms business interests.
"What we are asking for is a differentiated regulation for smaller cars. There are too many rules designed for bigger and more expensive cars, which means we can't make smaller cars in acceptable profitability conditions."
