Force of law

When to use

Use this pattern to introduce content that has force of law (sometimes referred to as tertiary legislation) in excise, Soft Drinks Industry Levy or VAT notices.

How to design using this pattern

Where possible write force of law in plain English in collaboration with the Solicitor’s Office to make sure it’s legally correct.

You can apply GOV.UK style to force of law text, so long as it does not change any of the wording or meaning.

Use this pattern just before the text that has force of law.

Force of law text should be put at the point the user needs to know it to complete their task.

If all of the text has force of law

Use this option where all of the text that sits under a heading has force of law.

Open this example in a new tab

                This section has force of law under [specific part of legislation/regulation].
              

If some of the text has force of law

Use these options if there’s not enough content with force of law for it to have its own section.

For bullet points

Open this example in a new tab

                The next x bullet points have force of law under [specific part of legislation/regulation]:
              

For sentences

Open this example in a new tab

                The next x sentences have force of law under [specific part of legislation/regulation].
              

Open this example in a new tab

                The next sentence has force of law under [specific part of legislation/regulation].
              

For paragraphs

Open this example in a new tab

                The next x paragraphs have force of law under [specific part of legislation/regulation].
              

Open this example in a new tab

                The next paragraph has force of law under [specific part of legislation/regulation].