Payments Forward Plan Published by Committee

The Payments Vision Delivery Committee, comprising HM Treasury, Bank of England, FCA, and PSR, has published the Payments Forward Plan. This plan outlines upcoming initiatives in retail and wholesale payments, including digital assets, to foster innovation and economic growth.

CMA Investigates ABF Acquisition of Hovis Merger

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into the anticipated acquisition of Hovis Group Limited by Associated British Foods plc. The inquiry is currently in Phase 2, with a statutory deadline of June 24, 2026.

CMA Investigates Hays Travel Merger

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched merger inquiries into Hays Travel's acquisitions of Polka Dot Travel and Millington Travel. Initial enforcement orders have been served, and phase 1 decision deadlines are set for April 2026.

Homes England Subsidy Referral for 2020 Developments Luton

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its final report advising Homes England on a proposed £29.5 million subsidy to 2020 Developments (Luton) Limited. This subsidy is for infrastructure development to unlock residential and employment space.

CMA Merger Inquiry: LDC acquires Green Label

The CMA has opened a merger inquiry into the acquisition of Green Label Holdings Limited by Société LDC SA. An initial enforcement order has been served, and an invitation to comment is open until March 9, 2026, to gather views on potential competition impacts.

Post Office Subsidy Scheme Report and Consultation

The CMA's Subsidy Advice Unit has accepted a request for a report on the proposed £609.2m Post Office Transformation Subsidy Scheme. The Department for Business and Trade is seeking advice on compliance with subsidy control requirements. Comments are due by March 11, 2026.

EMA Recommends Six New Medicines for Approval

The European Medicines Agency's CHMP has recommended six new medicines for marketing authorisation and nine for extension of therapeutic indications. These recommendations cover treatments for various conditions including menopausal symptoms, liver disease, a rare genetic disorder, influenza, and graft-versus-host disease.

EMA Recommends Kygevvi for Rare TK2d Disease Treatment

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended granting a marketing authorisation for Kygevvi, a new treatment for the rare genetic disease thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d). This recommendation is based on clinical study data showing improvement in motor function for pediatric patients.

EMA Recommends Withdrawal of Levamisole Medicines

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends the withdrawal of marketing authorisations for medicines containing levamisole due to the serious side effect of leukoencephalopathy. This recommendation follows an EU-wide review concluding that the benefits of these medicines no longer outweigh their risks for treating parasitic worm infections.

Levamisole withdrawn from EU market due to leukoencephalopathy risk

The EMA's PRAC has recommended the withdrawal of marketing authorisations for all medicines containing levamisole from the EU market. This decision is due to the confirmed risk of leukoencephalopathy, a serious brain side effect, where the benefits of the medicine no longer outweigh the risks for treating parasitic worm infections.