December 2018: new regulations
The latest guidance and legislation.
Legislation:
Plant health: 2 November 2018 - 1 December 2018
Wales and Northern Ireland
The Plant Health (Wales) Order 2018 and the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 revokes and consolidates with amendments to previous plant health legislation, in order to implement Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction of harmful organisms and their spread.
Brexit: 14 November 2018
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community details the terms reached by the European Commission and UK negotiators on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.
Noise: 31 December 2018
England and Scotland
The Environmental Noise (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 amend their respective main Regulations in order to establish a new common noise assessment methodology.
Carbon reporting: 1 April 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Companies (Directors’ Report) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report) Regulations 2018 makes changes to reporting requirements for quoted companies and introduces new requirements for large unquoted companies and large limited liability partnerships to annually report on emissions, energy consumption and energy efficiency action.
Guidance:
Pollution prevention: 1 October 2018
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The latest Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP) has been published. GPP22 deals with spills and provides support for anyone responsible for storing and transporting materials that could cause pollution if they spill, or to those who respond to spills or are responsible for transport or storage of waste from spills.
Consultation:
Waste: 22 October 2018
England
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs seeks views on banning the distribution and/or sale of plastic straws, cotton buds with plastic stems and plastic drink stirrers.
Planning: 26 October 2018
England
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is consulting on changes to planning practice guidance and policy clarifications, which will involve amendments to National Planning Policy.
Hazardous substances: 6 November 2018
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is proposing to update the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Regulations 2012, to implement the amended Directive (EU) 2017/2102 into UK law.