UK faces ‘large gaps’ in the law as just 13 per cent of EU regulations have been transferred ahead of Brexit

Businesses face extensive disruption on the UK's scheduled departure date from the EU unless thousands of laws are amended in time for the 29 March deadline.

Just 13 per cent of EU legislative regulations have been earmarked for retention by the government, meaning it faces a huge task in ensuring that all relevant laws are reviewed an amended in the 39 days before the UK leaves the bloc.

The research from Thomson Reuters there are 12,000 EU regulations in force that may need to be kept. The government has retained and amended approximately 1,700 of those documents.

Read more: UK clearing houses approved to continue serving EU clients post-Brexit

The Withdrawal Agreement signed by Theresa May and Brussels last December means that EU regulations can be incorporated into UK law on Brexit day, but they will need to be identified and amended to make sense once Britain is no longer a member of the EU.

A number of MPs have called for an extension to article 50 – the mechanism by which the UK leaves the EU – because they do not think the government is ready for a no-deal Brexit.

Charlotte Brady, legislation manager at Thomson Reuters, says: “Without fast and decisive action the UK may be left with large gaps or significant inaccuracies in its statue book. The regulations identified as retained so far represent a tiny fraction of what needs to be reviewed and amended.

“Although government legislators have been working incredibly hard, with just over two months to go the challenge is growing to complete this work on time.

Read more: McDonnell denies Labour MPs may quit party over Brexit

“The content of the UK’s final deal with the EU is likely to be a determining factor on the extent to which the UK continues – or not – to implement EU laws.

“The uncertainty surrounding this is troubling for many businesses as it makes accurate planning more difficult.”