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Levamisole withdrawn from EU market due to leukoencephalopathy risk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.

CVMP Opinions and Guidelines Update

The EMA's Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) adopted positive opinions for several variations to existing veterinary medicinal products and discussed pharmacovigilance signals. These updates primarily involve product information changes based on signal management processes.

School Uniforms Act Northern Ireland 2026 Guidelines and Allowances

The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 mandates the Department of Education to issue binding guidelines on school uniform policies and requires the Education Authority to extend eligibility for school clothing allowances. The Act aims to ensure fairness, practicality, and affordability in school uniform policies.

Plant Varieties Act Amendment Regulations 2026

The UK Secretary of State has issued the Plant Varieties Act (Amendment) Regulations 2026, amending the Plant Varieties Act 1997. These regulations clarify the definition of 'small farmer' concerning farm saved seed, with no significant impact foreseen on businesses.

People v. Ramirez - Criminal Appeal

The California Court of Appeal reversed a lower court's denial of a resentencing petition filed by Raul Enrique Ramirez under Penal Code section 1172.6. The court found that Ramirez was entitled to an evidentiary hearing on his claim that he could not be convicted of murder under current law.