Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator (Duty to Publish Certain Information) Regulations 2024 and Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator (Miscellaneous Listings) Order 2024: Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment

Regulatory and EU Alignment Impacts

Intra-UK Trade

This policy is not expected to impact on intra-UK trade. A Pubs Code and a Pubs Code Adjudicator already exist in England and Wales and although the schemes are not identical north and south of the border, the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Act 2021 and the related secondary legislation brings the tied pubs sector in Scotland more into line with its counterparts in England and Wales. Smaller pub-owning businesses in Scotland will likely need to contribute proportionately to the running of the Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator through a levy. This differs from the situation in England and Wales where the levy is placed only on pub-owning businesses that have 500 or more tied pubs.

International Trade

This policy will impact on the relationship between tied pub tenants and pub-owning businesses. It is not expected to impact on international trade and investment or to affect imports or exports, trade flows or international standards.

EU Alignment

This policy is not expected to impact on the Scottish Government’s policy to maintain alignment with the EU. It does not reduce standards or impede access to EU markets.