UK Common Frameworks
UK government publications relating to the UK Common Frameworks programme.
Overview
Common Frameworks were agreed with the devolved governments during the EU exit negotiations to manage potential intra-UK divergence in devolved policy areas which were once governed by the EU. Each Framework sets out intergovernmental working arrangements in a defined policy area, including meeting structures and processes for decision making, dispute resolution, information sharing and review. Common Frameworks cover a diverse range of policy areas and are underpinned by principles jointly agreed with the devolved governments in 2018, which include ensuring the functioning of the UK’s internal market and respect for devolution.
From the 152 originally defined areas, there are 30 agreed Common Frameworks, 5 of which are bi-lateral between the UK government and the Northern Ireland Executive. A UK Common Framework is developed jointly between the UK and devolved governments. The provisional Framework is scrutinised by committees in the UK Parliament and the devolved legislatures. The four governments jointly review and update the Common Framework and it is then fully implemented.
In addition to the Common Frameworks programme, in 2020 the UK Internal Market Act was passed. The subsequent UK government review (in 2025) of the UK Internal Market Act foregrounded Common Frameworks and the UK government committed to using Frameworks as the key fora to manage the UK internal market.
Whilst a number of the Common Frameworks remain provisional, they are all being used to facilitate close working between the governments of the United Kingdom.
UK Common Frameworks (fully implemented)
The list below includes all Common Frameworks that have been approved and fully implemented by the UK and devolved governments. They have been scrutinised by the UK Parliament and devolved legislatures and will be routinely jointly reviewed and updated by the UK and devolved governments.
(This collections page has links to the latest versions of the Common Frameworks, provisally published versions can be found via the relevant departmental page).
Department for Transport (DfT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
UK Common Frameworks (Provisional)
The Common Frameworks listed below have been provisionally approved by the UK government and the devolved governments. All of these frameworks are provisionally operational and will have completed or are undergoing scrutiny by the UK Parliament and the devolved legislatures.
Cabinet Office
Department for Business and Trade
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Department for Health and Social Care
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food Standards Agency
Common Frameworks Evaluation
This process evaluation of Common Frameworks was undertaken to assess how they are working in practice.
Framework analysis and updates
This final Framework analysis considered each of the 152 areas of EU law that intersect with devolved competence in one or more devolved administrations, setting out the latest policy positions on whether a policy area requires a Framework or not.
Updates to this page
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Moved the following pages form the provisional collection to the fully implemented collection: Department for Business and Trade: Late payment common framework Department for Health and Social Care: The Blood Safety and Quality Common Framework The Organs, Tissues, and Cells (apart from embryos and gametes) Common Framework
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Updated the main body text and reorganised the links
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Update to the DfT section
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DfT's commercial transport operator licensing, driver licensing, motor insurance and rail technical standards common frameworks added.
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Added a new collection: Common Frameworks Evaluation
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Updated the department ownership of the page
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Added a link under the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy section for the page 'UK Emissions Trading Scheme: common framework'
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Added a link under Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: Resources and waste: provisional common framework
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Added The European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks: 26 September to 25 December 2021.
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Added the following provisional common frameworks: fisheries management and support, food compositional standards and labelling, and Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-gases).
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Added provisional common frameworks on: agricultural support, animal health and welfare, air quality, plant varieties and seeds, integrated pollution prevention and control, fertilisers, plant health, organics and chemicals and pesticides.
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Added provisional common frameworks for company law, late payments (commercial transactions) and radioactive substances.
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Added The European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks: 26 June to 25 September 2021.
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Added The European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks: 26 March to 25 June 2021.
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New provisional common frameworks published.
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Addition of 'The European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks: 26 December 2020 to 25 March 2021'.
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Updated to include the following: 'Organs, Tissues and Cells, (apart from embryos and gametes): Provisional Common Framework', 'The Blood Safety and Quality Provisional Common Framework' and 'Food compositional standards and labelling: provisional common framework'.
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Updated to include "Public Procurement: Provisional Common Framework".
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Updated to included latest European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks statutory report.
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First published.