Agriculture Legislation
Regulations and policies governing farming practices, agricultural subsidies, rural development, and food production standards in the United Kingdom.
The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Incorporated former EU standards for animal research severity and reporting into the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
These Regulations amend the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to incorporate and restate clinical and administrative standards formerly contained in EU legislation, specifically the Animals Directive (2010/63/EU).
They establish a domestic framework for classifying the severity of scientific procedures on animals, mandate specific reporting timelines for project summaries, and define the advisory tasks of Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies.
The instrument applies to researchers, scientific establishments, and the Secretary of State across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026
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 Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
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 Animal Health Act 1981 (Extension of Definition of Disease) (England) Order 2026
The Order legally extended the definition of 'disease' under the Animal Health Act 1981 to include swine vesicular disease for operations within England.
This statutory instrument, made by the Secretary of State under the Animal Health Act 1981, officially extends the legal definition of 'disease' specifically for the application of the Act within England to formally include swine vesicular disease, thereby enabling the full regulatory framework pertaining to animal diseases to be applied to this specific contagion.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Expanded the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include air-to-air heat pumps for residential properties and extended the grant program's lifespan to 2030.
These Regulations amend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022 to expand the scope of eligible renewable heating technologies and extend the duration of the program.
They introduce air-to-air heat pumps as eligible plant for residential properties, remove the mandatory requirement for a valid energy performance certificate, and extend the scheme's operational timeline until 2030.
The regulations apply to heat pump and biomass boiler installers and property owners in England and Wales, overseen by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation by updating quarantine pest lists, revising import special requirements in Annex 7, revising phytosanitary certification requirements in Annex 11, and adding a plant to the UK plant passport list in Annex 13.
These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Welsh and Scottish Ministers under powers derived from EU Regulation 2016/2031, amend the existing UK Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (EU 2019/2072) by modifying several annexes concerning quarantine pests and import controls.
The primary effect is the addition of new fungi and insects to the GB quarantine pest lists, the removal of others, the clarification of special requirements for importing certain plants from third countries (notably concerning *Toumeyella parvicornis* and *Xylella fastidiosa*), and the addition of a plant species requiring a UK plant passport for internal movement.
The Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 to extend exceptions regarding non-organic animal rearing and feed use until the end of 2026 and clarified the use criteria for the food additive gellan gum in organic production.
The Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025 modify existing European Union derived legislation governing organic production and labelling within the UK, specifically amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 to extend certain transitional measures.
These amendments principally grant extensions until 31st December 2026 for the use of non-organically reared pullets in organic egg production flocks and permit the use of up to 5% non-organic protein feed for specific weight/age categories of piglets and poultry during the 2026 calendar year due to potential unavailability of organic supplies.
Additionally, a condition is added regarding the use of gellan gum in processed organic food, allowing non-organic sources if organic supplies are insufficient.
The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The 2025 regulations amended the 2021 Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations, lowering peat burning thresholds, updating definitions, adding licensing grounds for research, and removing outdated elements.
The Heather and Grass etc.
Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2021 regulations governing vegetation burning on peatland in England.
Key changes include lowering the peat depth threshold for burning prohibitions from 40cm to 30cm, removing the definition of ‘designated site’, introducing a definition of ‘less favoured area’, updating references in the definition of ‘upland area’, modifying licensing grounds to include historic feature protection and research purposes, and removing a licensing ground.
These changes aim to improve environmental protection, streamline regulations, and align with current mapping and policy.