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Want to understand how your business interacts with the environment and more importantly how you can mitigate those impacts? We’ve created an Environmental Awareness course to help answer all these questions.
Created to provide all roles within your organisation with a fundamental level of environmental awareness, this course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the key environmental impacts relevant to UK businesses. As well as this, the course supports attendees to reflect on how these issues apply to their organisation, and how they can be managed.
This is a half-day course, which will answer the following questions:
The course is designed to be delivered remotely so that it can be easily fitted into your busy schedule.
Jurisdiction: Great Britain
Commencement: 26th November 2021
Amends: The Plant Health (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
Under The Plant Health (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 as the United Kingdom (UK) has now left the European Union (EU) it is no longer part of the European single market. This means the EU becomes a third country and subject to third country import controls for the import of certain plants, plant pests and other material (such as soil). Internal controls will also continue to apply to movement of goods within Great Britain (GB).
A result of this is that the 2019 Regulations need to be amended to remove references to EU Regulations that have not been retained and to update definitions so that import controls apply to any material imported from outside GB. Numerous references to ‘Union territory’ are replaced with ‘Great Britain’.
Schedule 1 (temporary national measures) to the 2019 Regulations is removed. Schedule 2 originally set out general controls for certain plant pests relating to potatoes. This Schedule has been amended to remove references to EU Directives and insert definitions and references to EEPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation) Standards.
Schedule 3 which set out the relevant provisions in the EU Regulations for offences is amended as follows:
Schedule 4 (offences relating to EU emergency decisions) is removed.
Amendment
Transitional provisions within The Plant Health (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 are amended. This is done to ensure that they are extended to lower risk plants and products that enter Great Britain from Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
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Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland
Commencement: 21st February 2022
Amends: Planning and Development Regulations 2001
Under the Planning and Development Regulations 2002, the scales of location maps are modified to be used in areas other than built-up areas.
Any person making a planning application should be aware of the Regulations as a failure to comply will result in a planning application being rejected. Planning permission involves applying to the relevant planning authority and ensuring that any development that is carried out complies with the terms granted in the planning permission. Any planning application should also comply with the technical requirements regarding site notices and advertisement.
Amendment
A development that consists of a change of use* (and any related works) to residential use from Class 1, 2, 3, 6 or newly added Class 12 under Part 4 to Schedule 2 of the 2001 Regulations, is exempt from the requirement to obtain planning permission until 31st December 2025.
*Change of use refers to a change of use of a premises (e.g. office to residential use), which may need planning permission from the Local Planning Authority.
This amendment has no direct relevance to environmental matters.
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Jurisdiction: United Kingdom
Commencement: 26th November 2021
Amends: UK Retained: Regulation (EU) 2019/631 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles
CO2 emissions performance requirements are set by the European Commission (EC) for new passenger cars* and new light commercial vehicles* in order to help achieve the European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and the objectives of the Paris agreement (a global action plan to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels).
*New passenger cars are Category M1 vehicles which are registered in the EU for the first time and have not previously been registered outside of the EU. Category M1 means vehicles for the carriage of passengers with no more than 9 seats, including the driver’s seat, as defined in Annex II of Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
*New light commercial vehicles are Category N1 vehicles with a mass not exceeding 2610kg and those type approved under Regulation (EC) 715/2007 which are registered in the EU for the first time and have not previously been registered outside of the EU. Category N1 means vehicles for the carriage of goods with a maximum mass of 3.5 tonnes. as defined in Annex II of Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Zero emissions category N vehicles with a mass exceeding 2480kg will be counted as light commercial vehicles from 1st January 2025, if the excess mass is due to the energy storage system.
If a vehicle has been registered outside of the EU for less than 3 months before it is registered in the EU, then it is will still be considered a ‘new’ vehicle.
The Regulation does not apply to special purpose vehicles, i.e. a vehicle intended to perform a function which requires special body arrangements and/or equipment. This category includes wheel-chair accessible vehicles, caravans, and ambulances, as defined by Part A of Annex II of Directive 2007/46/EC establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Manufacturers responsible for fewer than 1000 new passenger cars or light commercial vehicles registered in the EU in the previous calendar year are not required to comply with certain requirements, including the requirement to meet specific emissions targets and pay excess emissions premium.
Amendment
Changes are made to set CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles for the period 2021-2024, so that UK CO2 targets are fully established, and relevant data can be collected. The new specific emissions targets that manufacturers must meet are outlined below.
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Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland
Commencement: 12th May 2021
Amends: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001 transpose Council Directive 98/24/EC on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work. The Regulations also transpose the related Commission Directive 2000/39/EC establishing a first list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC, through an approved Code of Practice.
The Regulations define activity involving chemical agents, biological limit value, chemical agent, hazard, hazardous chemical agent, health surveillance, occupational exposure limit value and risk.
The Regulations set down obligations on employers as regards:-
The Regulations also set out duties for employees and they provide for prohibitions and exemptions relating to the production, manufacture, or use at work of specified chemical agents
The regulations revoke and replace:
Amendment
The Authority sets out the Codes of Practice* for work activities involving chemical agents, based on the relevant occupational exposure limit value.
*The Codes of Practice are written practical guidance, taking into consideration the legal requirements or prohibitions for work activities within industries.
The definition of ‘occupational exposure limit value’ is updated to mean the limit of the time-weighted average* of the concentration of a chemical agent within a worker’s breathing zone for a time period set out by the Codes of Practice.
*The time-weighed average is a worker’s daily exposure to hazardous substances which is calculated using the following:
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Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland
Commencement: 7th September 2021
Amends:
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides details on approval plans made by the Government in relation to climate change for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy. This Act establishes a body to be known as the Climate Change Advisory Council.
This Act will not affect existing or future obligations of the State under the law of the European Union (including Directive 2001/42/EC, Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Directive 2003/87/EC and Decision No. 406/2009/EC), existing or future obligations of the State under any international agreement, any Act or instrument that gives effect to any such obligation or existing or future entitlements of the State or any person under the said law, agreement, Act or instrument.
The Planning and Development Act 2000 is designed to serve as a planning code and therefore, in order for any development to be valid it should be undertaken in compliance with the requirements of this legislation, as well as any other legislation such as the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992.
The Planning and Development Act 2000 revised the entire amount of planning law into a single piece of legislation, covering all forms of planning and development. The scope of the Act is wide and sets out a detailed section-by-section analysis of the provisions of the Act, including development plans, local area plans, regional planning guidelines, architectural heritage, housing supply, appeal procedures and environmental impact assessment. Under the Act each Local Authority has a responsibility to determine policy in its area through a Development Plan and for applying the policy through planning control, planning applications and enforcing planning decisions.
The amendments of 2002 include changes to Part V of the 2000 Act (Housing Supply) and other miscellaneous amendments.
Amendment
In order for Ireland to meet plans set out by the Government in relation to climate change to help the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy before the end of 2050, significant changes have been made to The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (‘2015 Act’). These changes (mainly affecting requirements of the Government, Ministers and local authorities) are reflected in the summary and duties above.
Section 3 of the 2015 Act has been replaced with the “national climate objective” outlined in the summary and duties above. Section 4 of the 2015 Act has been replaced with the “climate action plan and national long term climate action strategy” outlined in the summary and duties above.
Technical amendments are made to section 5 (national climate change adaptation framework) to clarify the matters that the Minister and Government must consider in the national climate change adaptation framework. Updates are made to the specific documentation which the Minister and Government must jointly make and submit in section 6.
The following new sections are added to the 2015 Act:
The content of these regulations are further explained above in the duties section.
Sections 9, 11, 12 and 13 relating to the Advisory Council are amended by updating the information around the number of persons in the Advisory Council.
Section 14A (Climate Reporting and Sections) and section 14B (Role of local authority) are added into the 2015 Act. These sections explain the specific climate areas that the Minister should report on, and the role of local authorities in achieving climate goals.
Section 15 (Duties of certain bodies) is amended to update the rules which a relevant body must adhere to.
Changes to the Planning and Development Act 2000 require development plans to include objectives to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and address the necessity of adaptation to climate change, taking account of the local authority climate action plan.
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Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland
Commencement: 12th October 2021
Amends: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides details on approval plans made by the Government in relation to climate change for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy. This Act establishes a body to be known as the Climate Change Advisory Council.
This Act will not affect existing or future obligations of the State under the law of the European Union (including Directive 2001/42/EC, Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Directive 2003/87/EC and Decision No. 406/2009/EC), existing or future obligations of the State under any international agreement, any Act or instrument that gives effect to any such obligation or existing or future entitlements of the State or any person under the said law, agreement, Act or instrument.
Amendment
These Regulations specify that the carbon budgets, referred to in the Duties section above, (commencing on 1st January 2021 and ending on 31st December 2025, and future budgets thereafter), must take into account emissions from the greenhouse gases specified in the CRF*.
*The CRF is the common reporting format tables provided annually by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the United Nations under UN reporting guidelines. The CRF are amended by the EPA and published on the EPA website.
The way in which emissions should be calculated and accounted for, is specified in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reporting guidelines on annual inventories for Parties.
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On behalf of all of us at The Compliance People and Newground Together, Thank you!
Environmental and sustainability consultancy, Comply Direct, works with The Compliance People to provide benefits for both customer bases through sharing information and resources on a broader range of relevant compliance areas. Comply Direct is specialised in environmental policy and sustainability support for businesses, complementing The Compliance People’s provision of management tools and advice for environment, health and safety, and quality-related compliance obligations.
Our friends at Comply Direct have put together a great article for you to read:
A roadmap to Net Zero: The how? and why? of carbon reduction for your business
We see issues regarding waste at almost every site we carry out environmental legal compliance audits for – whether it’s to do with the storage of waste or making sure all the relevant waste documentation is in place and correct. It’s also a topic we find ISO 14001 certification auditors love to dig into! This course looks at the detailed requirements of waste duty of care for those who produce waste at their organisation.
This course is designed to be delivered remotely to fit in with your busy schedule. It’s split into two modules which will be delivered on different days to avoid online training fatigue. Our consultants are qualified virtual trainers and as a team we know that attendees will get more out of this format than an all-day remote training course. You need to attend both modules in order to complete the course.
“This is an excellent course for anyone wanting to understand their responsibilities under the Waste Duty of Care.” – University of Cambridge
Are you struggling to understand the requirements of the environmental aspects clause in ISO 14001:2015?
Created for anyone who needs to know more about environmental aspects, this course has been designed to take you through building an environmental aspects register for your organisation from start to finish. (Even if you already have a register, you will pick up some tips to improve and refresh your current register.)
Specially designed by our in house consultants, this course has been built to be delivered remotely so it can be easily fitted into your busy schedule. The course has been split into two modules that will be delivered at different times to avoid online training fatigue.
Our consultants are qualified virtual trainers, and as a team, we know that attendees will get more out of this format than an all-day remote training course. You will need to attend both modules to complete the course.
Stay up-to-date with topical news and legislation from The Compliance People. Selected updates direct to your inbox.
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