As Martin mentioned, implementing the EU directive in the UK is quite straightforward. This is the information I have received on this topic:
The new Directive was finally approved earlier this year. It is not UK law in itself, but it requires member states to bring their domestic law into conformity with the Directive. In the UK this would be done by "secondary legislation" - that is the relevant Minister publishes a draft Order (called a "statutory instrument"), which is laid before both Houses of Parliament, and after 40 days, unless it is voted down by a majority, it becomes law. Usually, they are not debated. It appears that the UK has not yet done this, but since it would merely extend the current status quo indefinitely, it is not particularly urgent or significant to do so. Ezra
