Latest Legislation Updates

There were 64 amendments and new entries added to the Legislation Update Service in March. 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 March 2025 included:

United Kingdom: To align with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the start of the second allocation period for stationary installations has been moved from 2026 to 2027, making 2026 a standalone scheme year. The 2026 scheme year is to be treated as an extension of the first allocation period of 2021–2025.

England: Waste collectors are allowed to collect the recyclable waste streams, metal, glass and plastic in any combination, without the need to produce a written statement.
Great Britain: Technical changes are made to The Electricity Capacity Regulations 2014 for auctions of capacity market units (CMUs) scheduled for 2026 in Great Britain.
 

England & Wales: The Act makes a number of changes to existing legislation

England: The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 Schedule 25C is inserted to outline decarbonisation readiness requirements for regulated electricity-generating facilities in England

 

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Updates from previous months

United Kingdom: In England, rules preventing the release of red-legged partridges and common pheasants into the wild at European sites without a general wildlife management licence were set to expire on 30th May 2025. This expiry date has now been removed, meaning their release is still prohibited after the 30th May 2025.

Northern Ireland: Previously, Northern Irish net emissions for 2040 were required to be in line with the 2050 target of net zero, but they did not specify a specific reduction percentage. These regulations introduce a measurable target for emissions reduction. They require a reduction of at least 77% from the baseline level by 2040, providing clarity on the necessary reductions.
Scotland: Scottish Ministers are required to set Scottish carbon emission budgets and targets and draft climate change plans in support of achieving net-zero by 2045.

United Kingdom: The Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2023 is extended to include Northern Ireland. This order provides a series of trading schemes intended to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and vans.

United Kingdom: The use of heavy fuel oil by ships in Arctic waters is banned from the 1st July 2024, with some exceptions allowed until 2029. Ships are still allowed to carry heavy fuel oil as cargo but must not use it as fuel. If a ship has used or carried heavy fuel oil as fuel before entering Arctic waters, it must be removed from the ship before entry, but cleaning of pipelines and tanks is not required.

Great Britain: Both hazardous and non-hazardous waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will now be subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure when being imported into or exported from Great Britain.

 

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.

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.
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. 

United Kingdom: Changes are made to previous regulations.

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

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

 

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

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.
 

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.

 

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”.

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).
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.
 

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