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If the UK fails to introduce the change in the law by the end of August, the European Commission (EC) says it can take "whatever action it deems appropriate in response to either a complaint or indications of infringements which it detects itself .
The procedure normally begins with a "letter of formal notice" to the member state, requesting information about why it has failed to Introduce the Directive. It can then send a "reasoned opinion" to the member state, demanding it complies within another specified period, which could be a week or less. The EC says it tries to resolve problems without resorting to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), and even if it does, it has to bring a case to the ECJ for a second time for the country to have periodic penalty payments imposed upon it.
Anyone can lodge a complaint against a member state with the EC for fairing to comply with its Directives.
An EC spokeswoman adds that it has not been informed by the UK that it could fail to meet the August deadline, nor is it aware of any delays.