States Meeting Summary 10 March
10 March 2026
Public Business
P.47 Suspension of Deputy P. F. C. Ozouf of St Saviour
The meeting began with the debate relating to a proposal from the Privileges and Procedures Committee that Deputy Philip Ozouf is suspended for 28 days, with immediate effect, for breaches of the States Members’ Code of Conduct.
It follows the Deputy’s conviction and sentencing by the Royal Court for assisting unlawful immigration.
Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache proposed deferring the debate until 24 March as Deputy Ozouf was marked ‘malade’ (sick).
The Assembly voted to REJECT the Deputy’s proposition with 11 votes for, 35 votes against and 2 abstentions.
You can see how Members voted here.
The Assembly then voted to APPROVE the Committee's proposition with 34 votes for, 5 votes against and 6 abstentions.
You can see how Members voted here.
Skip 7 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate regarding both propositions in full.
P.112 Draft Alcohol Licensing (Jersey) Law 202
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, proposed changes to Jersey’s alcohol licensing regime to reduce the complexities and speed up the process.
Under the proposals:
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The Licensing Assembly would be abolished, and instead, the Gambling Commission would grant licenses with powers to tailor license conditions to suit businesses and their surroundings.
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The Commission would be renamed the Alcohol and Gambling Commission to reflect its new responsibilities.
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An Alcohol Policy Ministerial Group would provide guidance on issues such as opening hours, promotions, pricing, public health and defining a fit and proper person. The Assembly would need to approve any guidance before it is issued.
The principles were approved by the Assembly on 22 January 2026. Debate resumed on the articles, with any amendments taken in the order they appear within the proposed law.
The Comité des Connétables confirmed that it has withdrawn its amendment to this proposition and therefore it was not debated.
Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache proposed an amendment to retain the Licensing Assembly as the body which approves applications for liquor licenses.
The Assembly voted to REJECT the Deputy’s amendment with 11 votes for, 35 votes against and 1 abstention.
You can see how Members voted here.
Skip 1 hour and 25 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate in full.
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, proposed an amendment to his own proposition that would move oversight of alcohol licences to the Regulation Directorate instead of the proposed Alcohol and Gambling Commission.
If approved, the Regulation Directorate would be required to publish any applications on the gov.je website and provide an explanation to a Parish Constable if its decision differs from that of the Parish Assembly.
The amendment also sets out the membership of the Alcohol Policy Board and the key objectives it must deliver and removes proposals to introduce civil penalties.
Skip 2 hours and 37 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the Minister propose the amendment.
The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel proposed an amendment to the above amendment which would remove the Attorney General as a named member of the Alcohol Policy Group.
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Panel’s amendment with 44 votes for, 0 votes against and 1 abstention.
You can see how Members voted here.
Skip 2 hours and 43 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate in full.
Debate resumed on the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development’s amendment as amended by the Scrutiny Panel.
The amendment proposed moving oversight of alcohol licences to the Regulation Directorate; sets out the membership of the Alcohol Policy Board which would no longer include the Attorney General; and removes proposals to introduce civil penalties.
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s amendment, as amended, with 43 votes for, 2 votes against and 1 abstention.
You can see how Members voted here.
Skip 2 hours and 55 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the debate in full.
Deputy Alex Curtis proposed an amendment requiring licenced premises to provide customers with free tap water, unless it cannot be supplied easily.
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Deputy’s amendment with 43 votes for, 0 votes against and 1 abstention.
You can see how Members voted here.
Skip 3 hours and 9 minutes into this morning’s recording to watch the Deputy propose the amendment and watch from the beginning of this afternoon’s recording to hear the debate in full.
Debate then resumed on the Minister’s proposition, as amended.
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition, as amended, with 44 votes for 2 votes against and 1 abstention.
You can see how Members voted here.
Skip to 16 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the debate in full.
P.113 Draft Food (Jersey) Regulations 202-
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, proposed new regulations under the Food (Jersey) Law 2023. These regulations aim to:
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Provide guidance on the labelling and listing of food allergens by food businesses.
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Outlines the specific training requirements for all staff involved in food preparation and service.
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Introduce a new licensing scheme for all business engaged in any stage of food production, processing or distribution.
If adopted, these regulations would come into effect on 1 October 2026.
Skip 34 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the start of this debate.
The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel proposed an amendment which would:
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Remove the Minister’s ability to levy fees for the proposed licensing scheme
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Remove the commencement date from the legislation as the Panel believes that 1 October 2026 is unrealistic.
The Assembly agreed to debate Part 1 of this amendment, (Remove the Minister’s ability to levy fees for the proposed licensing scheme) which the Minister had not accepted, during the debate on Regulation 56.
The Assembly voted to REJECT Part 1 of the Panel’s amendment with 19 votes for, 21 votes against and 3 abstentions.
You can see how Members voted here.
The Minister accepted Part 2 of the EHI Amendment.
Debate then resumed on the Minister’s proposition, as amended.
The Assembly voted to APPROVE the Minister’s proposition, (as amended), with the commencement date removed, with 44 votes for, 0 votes against and 3 abstentions.
You can see how Members voted here.
P.114 Draft Food (Jersey) Commencement Act 202-
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, proposed a Commencement Act which, if approved, would bring the Food (Jersey) Law 2023 into force seven days after this Act was passed.
Read more: bit.ly/4aI1b22
The States Assembly voted to APPROVE the Ministers proposition with 46 votes for, 0 votes against and 1 abstention.
You can see how Members voted here.
Skip to 3 hours and 10 minutes into this afternoon’s recording to watch the start of this debate.
PLEASE NOTE: Deputy Bailhache has moved the debate on his proposition 14, Treating Children as Children, to the March 24th sitting.
Adjournment
The States Assembly then adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30am on Wednesday 11 March 2026.
