Optician news in brief

A judicial review was slated for this week on the proposed closure of low value consignment relief (LVCR) on imports from the Channel Islands including contact lenses. The loophole, also applicable to imports of CDs and DVDs, was due to be closed in the UK on April 1 (News 18.11.11), but a review was initiated by the governments of Jersey and Guernsey as Optician went to press. It was scheduled to take place at the High Court of Justice Queen's Bench Division Administrative Court in the Strand, London.

Around 50 visually impaired workers were confirmed to be affected by redundancies at Remploy. It follows the government's decision to reduce current funding for Remploy, one of the largest UK employers of disabled people through its 54 factories. Last week, the organisation announced it was consulting with its trade unions and the management forums on the proposed closure of 36 of its factories this year, and the potential compulsory redundancy of 1,752 employees.