Latest Legislation Updates

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There were 88 amendments and new entries added to the Legislation Update Service in January. See below a selection of the latest legislation updates.

Saving you time and tailored to your specific needs, The Compliance People’s Legislation Update Service provides automated legal registers taking the hard work out of staying up to date.

The service includes only the legislation relevant to you, as well as a host of other features to support you in managing your compliance obligations.

Legislation updates in January 2025 included:

Waste Management Act 1996 (End-of-Waste) Regulations 2024

Republic of Ireland: Producers of end-of-waste items must submit a notification and an annual report to the Environmental Protection Agency within 12 months and then by 31st March each year.

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Northern Ireland: European Union Member States are required to ensure that outdoor air quality is assessed and managed in order to minimise the harmful effects on human and environmental health.

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024

United Kingdom: These Regulations update and consolidate the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility programme for packaging and revoke previous legislation relating to packaging data reporting.

The Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025

United Kingdom: Changes are made to previous regulations.

The Official Controls (Plant Health) and Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Great Britain: Changes are made to Assimilated Regulation 2019/2072 & Assimilated Regulation 2017/625.

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024

United Kingdom: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme Order is updated.

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Updates from previous months

January 2025

Derelict Sites Act 1990 (Urban Areas) Regulations 2024

Republic of Ireland: A range of new locations are designated as urban areas under the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (recast)

EU: European Union Member States are required to ensure that outdoor air quality is assessed and managed in order to minimise the harmful effects on human and environmental health.

Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Act 2024

Republic of Ireland: Technical changes are made to the Companies Act 2014, including:

specifying the circumstances when a company will not be entitled to an audit exemption; and
expanding the scope of when companies may be prosecuted or stuck off.

While these changes may be of interest to organisations that operate within the Republic of Ireland, they do not have any direct environmental duties.

December 2024

Building Control (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2024

Republic of Ireland: Exemptions from the requirements for commencement notices and fire safety certificates are introduced for works on Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings.*.

*Tier 1 and 2 buildings include apartments and duplexes constructed between 1991 and 2013 for which Tier 1 or 2 fire safety remediation options are considered appropriate in accordance with the “Code of Practice for the Remediation of Fire Safety Defects”.

European Communities (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) Regulations 2024

Republic of Ireland: Organisations and customs representatives importing goods covered under Regulation (EU) 2023/956 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM Regulation) must register and declare imports annually with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Road Traffic Act 2010 (Section 87(1A)) Regulations 2024

Republic of Ireland: The exemptions applicable to members of Garda Síochána for vehicles and requirements, restrictions and prohibitions relating to the driving and use of vehicles, are extended to include trainees and their instructors. This amendment has no direct relevance to occupational health and safety matters.

November 2024

Energy Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2024.
United Kingdom: A few amendments to Electricity Act 1989 and Gas Act 1986 are brought into force. The amendments relate to prohibition of unlicenced activity and the establishment of the Independent System Operator and Planner.
Regulation (EU) 2024/2423 Granting a Union Authorisation for the Single Biocidal Product Ca(OH)2 PT0
EU: Lhoist is authorised to use and sell the biocidal product ‘Ca(OH)2 PT02’ from 6th October 2024 until 30th November 2033, subject to conditions.
Regulation (EU) 2024/2564 amending Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 as regards the harmonised classification and labelling of certain substances
EU: Annex VI – harmonised classification and labelling for certain hazardous substances is updated. Harmonised classification and labelling for a significant number of substances are either introduced, updated or removed.
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) Regulations 2024
Scotland: The sale and supply of single-use vapes is prohibited in Scotland from 1st June 2025, addressing the environmental impact caused by disposable vapes being discarded.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024
Northern Ireland: Employers must provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), free-of-charge, to all workers who work for them under contract, such as freelancers, contractors and agency workers, and not only employees. Previously, the Regulations only required PPE to be provided to employees.
Waste Management (Landfill Levy) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Republic of Ireland: Construction and demolition waste is no longer exempted from the landfill levy.

September 2024

The Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Plant and Animal Health) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024
Great Britain: The entry requirements for imports of cut herbs of basil and cut flowers of carnations, roses, Gypsophila and Chrysanthemum originating from non-EU third countries into Great Britain, are updated.
The Energy Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2024
United Kingdom: Multiple sections are brought into force.
The Response to the Committee on Climate Change Report (Extension of Period) Order 2024
United Kingdom: The deadline for the Secretary of State’s response to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) Report for 2024, previously set for 15th October 2024, has been extended to 19th December 2024.
Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) (Amendment) (No. 1) Order 2024
Republic of Ireland: Schedule 3, Schedule 4, Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 have been replaced. This is to update the lists of renewable energy projects in the:
• Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme; and
• Renewable Electricity Support Scheme.
The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2024
Wales: All parts of the 2023 Act that were not already in force, except for section 147, will commence on 9th September 2024 and 4th November 2024.

August 2024

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024
Republic of Ireland: This Act establishes both the “Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund” and the “Future Ireland Fund” within the Republic of Ireland. These new funds replace the “National Surplus (Exceptional contingencies) Reserve Fund”, which is now dissolved.
Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Republic of Ireland: The Building Control Regulations 1997 are amended so that the construction of new residential houses will require a commencement notice from the 1st September 2024. A building project must also follow building control processes, even if it has planning development status.
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024
Scotland: A framework is introduced that allows Scottish Ministers to support agriculture, rural communities and the rural economy.
The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators and International Road Transport Permits) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
United Kingdom: Drivers of vehicles registered in Northern Ireland, and brought temporarily to Great Britain for the carriage of goods, no longer have to carry documentation in order to be exempt from the requirement to hold an operator licence* in Great Britain.
The Building Safety Act 2022 (Amendment Notices Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024
England & Wales: The period when amendment notices can be issued is extended to include the periods where registered building control approvers are able to supervise high-risk building work.

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