Firms 'falling foul' of new online disclosure law

Many UK companies are risking fines because of their failure to adhere to a new European law on website and email signatures, it has been claimed.

The deadline for businesses to get in line with the regulations was 1 January, though software company, Softalk, believes that many will have missed this cut-off date.

The company has warned that small and medium sized firms in particular are risking fines.

The regulations, which incorporate the European First Company Law Amendment into UK law, requires that companies list their company registration number, place of registration and registered office address on websites and in emails.

“Small and medium size businesses have to cope with more and more draconian regulations,” said Softalk joint chief executive Simon Bates. “Owners and directors now face fines if their employees forget to include this information in email signatures.”