Briefly noted

▪ Travel firms that want to continue selling insurance with package holidays after 1 January 2009 will be able to apply for authorisation from 30 June. The Financial Services Authority has published the final rules for regulating travel insurance, making few changes following consultation with the industry, that requires travel agents to be subject to statutory regulation in the sale of insurance for the first time. Under several changes to the final rules, the transitional period during which introducer appointed representatives can handle client money has been extended for a further six months and travel agents selling insurance will be required to meet the same professional indemnity insurance requirements as general insurance limits at €1m for a single claim. Applications for authorisation must be received by 15 November 2008 to qualify for interim authorisation when the new rules take effect on 1 January 2009.