Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Legislation
71 statutory instruments made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, newest first. Each one is explained section by section in plain English.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Bawdsey to Aldeburgh) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Designated 24th June 2026 as the date ending the access preparation period for the coastal path between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh.
This Order establishes June 24, 2026, as the date on which the access preparation period ends for land designated as coastal margin between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
It applies to land identified in five specific reports submitted by Natural England and approved by the Secretary of State under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
By concluding the access preparation period, the Order triggers the legal commencement of public access rights to this stretch of coastal land under the terms of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea) (No. 2) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Designated 24 June 2026 as the end of the coastal access preparation period for the Southwold to Lowestoft stretch of the England Coast Path.
This Order establishes June 24, 2026, as the formal end of the access preparation period for specific stretches of the Suffolk coastline between Southwold and Lowestoft.
It applies to land designated as coastal margin within the England Coast Path sectors AHS4 and AHS5, effectively enabling public access rights under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
The Order affects landowners, local authorities, and the general public by concluding the legal window reserved for physical preparations and land management changes required for the new long-distance route.
The Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment etc.) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Expanded UK marine licensing requirements to include various activities conducted by UK persons or vessels in international waters and the high seas.
This Order expands the scope of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 by designating ten new categories of licensable marine activities conducted in areas beyond national jurisdiction, such as the high seas and the international seabed.
It requires British vessels, aircraft, structures, and 'United Kingdom persons' to obtain licenses for activities including depositing substances, scuttling vessels, constructing works, dredging, and using explosives in these areas.
The Order also establishes specific exemptions for activities that do not require environmental impact assessments and aligns the new regulations with existing Scottish marine legislation and cable maintenance protocols.
The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023
Amended and modernized the legal framework for the trade of endangered species by introducing electronic permits and new criteria for import waivers.
This instrument updates the regulatory framework for the trade of protected wild fauna and flora in Great Britain to align with international obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
It authorizes the use of electronic permit systems, establishes a process for waiving import permit requirements for certain species, and grants the Secretary of State powers to set trade restrictions and general derogations through secondary legislation.
These regulations apply to management and scientific authorities, customs officers, and any persons or businesses involved in the import, export, or commercial use of endangered species specimens.
The Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
The Order amended the 2015 and 2023 Dangerous Dogs exemption scheme Orders by removing third-party insurance requirements and inserting new specific child protection supervision conditions.
This Statutory Instrument amends three existing pieces of legislation concerning exemption schemes for dogs classified as dangerous in England and Wales, primarily by removing mandatory requirements for third-party insurance for exempted dogs, effective July 1st, 2026, while simultaneously introducing a new requirement for the supervision of exempted dogs interacting with children under the age of 12 in non-public settings, effective November 1st, 2026, for certain schemes.
The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Energy Act 2023
The Regulations amended existing 2017 conservation law to establish specific compensatory measure requirements and administrative processes for certain UK offshore wind projects approved despite negative site assessments.
These Regulations, made under the Energy Act 2023, amend the 2017 Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations and the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations to introduce a specific framework for securing compensatory measures related to 'relevant offshore wind plans or projects' approved despite negative environmental impact assessments.
The amendments effectively disapply existing general duties regarding site coherence and introduce a new mechanism requiring compensatory measures to benefit the UK MPA network proportionately, selected according to a published compensation hierarchy, with specific approval and review responsibilities assigned to the Secretary of State, Welsh Ministers, and Scottish Ministers across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Food Safety Act 1990
Increased the statutory fees for monitoring chemical residues in livestock and animal products across England starting June 2026.
These Regulations increase the statutory fees charged to food producers and processors for the surveillance of veterinary medicine residues and other substances in animal products.
The rules apply to bovine, goat, sheep, soliped, and swine carcasses, as well as poultry, eggs, milk, fish, and game.
The charges are collected in England and are implemented in two stages: an initial change taking effect on 1 June 2026, followed by a second increase on 1 April 2027.
The Biodiversity Gain Site Register (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Environment Act 2021
The Regulations amended the 2024 Biodiversity Gain Site Register Regulations by incorporating provisions related to development consent granted under the Planning Act 2008 and defining key site and development terms.
These 2026 Regulations amend the 2024 Biodiversity Gain Site Register Regulations, primarily by extending their application to include development consent granted under the Planning Act 2008, in addition to standard planning permission.
The amendments introduce specific definitions for 'biodiversity gain site' and 'development', and modify regulations concerning which land is eligible for registration, the content required for registration applications, and the process for allocating recorded habitat enhancement to developments requiring development consent.