Agriculture Legislation
Regulations and policies governing farming practices, agricultural subsidies, rural development, and food production standards in the United Kingdom.
The Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery (No. 2) (Variation) Order 2025
The Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery (No. 2) (Variation) Order 2025 modifies the 2024 Order, altering article 5(12) regarding licence eligibility.
Specifically, it makes individuals who were shareholders or officers of certain companies ineligible for licenses or renewals until December 2031.
The order, enacted under the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967, aims to improve the regulation of cockle fishing in the Thames Estuary.
The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2017 regulations.
Key changes include adding a definition of "marketing," updating the interpretation of EU Directive 2014/98/EU with a new Schedule 6, removing a review duty, requiring labeling for genetically modified varieties, correcting terminology, and updating pest and disease requirements.
These updates aim to modernize the regulations and ensure consistency with current scientific knowledge and risk assessments.
The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective July 22nd, 2025, amend Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 concerning animal transport.
The amendments specifically address the handling of chickens (Gallus gallus) and turkeys, modifying the prohibition on lifting birds by their legs, whilst introducing new rules regarding lifting and carrying based on weight.
The regulations were developed after consultation with relevant stakeholders and apply across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The Customs (Preferential Trade Arrangements and Tariff Quotas) (US) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective June 30, 2025, amend existing UK customs rules to incorporate a new preferential trade agreement and tariff quota for US beef, stemming from the General Terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal concluded on May 8, 2025.
The changes add a new quota to the Customs (Tariff Quotas) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 and include the new agreement details within the Customs Tariff (Preferential Trade Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
The regulations apply to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2021 Order to clarify the power to slaughter animals infected with tuberculosis, remove outdated references to the European Union Common Agricultural Policy, and broaden the Secretary of State's authority to publish information aiding tuberculosis prevention.
The amendment also adds several parishes to Schedule 3, expanding the specified areas covered under the order.
It comes into force on July 15, 2025 and covers England and Wales.
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective November 13, 2025, activate parts of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
The Act governs the release and sale of precision-bred organisms, specifically focusing on plants within England, Wales, and Scotland.
The regulations specify which sections of the Act come into force, primarily those concerning the release, marketing, risk assessment, and production of food from precision-bred plants, and their enforcement.
The Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025
The Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025, enacted under the Agriculture Act 2020, mandate reductions to delinked payments for English farmers in 2025.
These reductions are tiered based on the payment amount, with a 76% reduction for payments up to £30,000 and a 100% reduction for amounts above that threshold, impacting several sections of previously enacted Delinked Payments Regulations.
The regulations clarify how these percentages are to be applied and came into effect 21 days after their creation.
The Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (EU 2019/2072) to update lists of quarantine and non-quarantine pests in Great Britain.
The amendments add *Pseudomonas avellanae* and *Neodiprion abietis* to the quarantine pest list, remove others from both quarantine and provisional quarantine lists, modify host plant lists, and revise import requirements for several plant species and products.
The changes aim to enhance plant health protection and align with international standards, with some provisions coming into effect on May 30th, 2025.