Environment Legislation
Regulations protecting natural resources, addressing climate change, pollution control, and environmental conservation measures.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Portsmouth to South Hayling) Order 2025
The Order appointed 12th November 2025 as the end date for the access preparation period concerning the coastal margin for the Portsmouth to South Hayling section of the England Coast Path.
This Order, made by the Secretary of State under powers derived from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, formally appoints 12th November 2025 as the day the access preparation period ends for the coastal margin associated with the England Coast Path route covering Portsmouth to South Hayling, referencing previous approvals of Natural England’s inspection reports.
The Nuclear Installations (Prescribed Conditions and Excepted Matter) Regulations 2025
The Regulations prescribed conditions for nuclear disposal site exemption from the NTPL regime and amended the 2017 regulations to define disposed matter as excepted matter.
These Regulations establish the necessary technical conditions for certain nuclear installations used for the disposal of nuclear matter to be exempt from the strict liability provisions of the Nuclear Third Party Liability (NTPL) regime established under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.
The requirements include limiting the effective dose to the public off-site to no more than 1 millisievert and ensuring the risk of criticality on the site is negligible; furthermore, the legislation amends previous regulations to define nuclear matter disposed of on such an exempted site as 'excepted matter,' thereby clarifying liability responsibilities.
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 A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025
The Secretary of State successfully executed an amendment to the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025, specifically altering the timing requirement for a financial agreement concerning the Kent Downs National Landscape.
The Secretary of State for Transport has issued this Order, following an application for a non-material change, specifically to amend Article 65 of the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025, which concerns the financial arrangements provided by National Highways Limited for the benefit of the Kent Downs National Landscape.
The Official Controls (Import of High-Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) (England) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 by updating commodity codes and substituting detailed annexes concerning temporary official controls and emergency measures for high-risk non-animal origin food and feed entering England.
These Regulations, titled the Official Controls (Import of High-Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) (England) Regulations 2025, were enacted by the Secretary of State to amend the existing framework governing enhanced official controls on specific high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin entering England.
The key changes involve replacing the former Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes and TARIC sub-divisions with a single 'commodity code' structure to align with the UK's Integrated Tariff system, and substituting the previous Annexes I and II of EUR 2019/1793 with updated lists detailing required controls, hazards, and inspection frequencies for products originating from various third countries.
The Regulations extend to England and Wales but apply only to England, coming into force on January 1, 2026.
The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent (Amendment) Order 2025
The Order amended the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025 to modify environmental mitigation commitments related to air quality and the Epping Forest SAC.
This Order amends the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025 following an application for a non-material change concerning environmental mitigation measures for the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
The amendment specifically replaces a commitment in the Code of Construction Practice register regarding air quality effects, mandating the implementation of appropriate technology to enable a 60mph westbound speed limit enforcement zone on the M25 between junctions 26 and 27, coupled with detailed monitoring, reporting, and appropriate funding arrangements to prevent Adverse Effect on Integrity (AEoI) from nitrogen deposition.
The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended definitions, introduced new criteria for identifying bathing waters based on feasibility and safety, allowed for flexible bathing season determination, modified management measures for 'poor' waters, and updated pollution reporting and monitoring requirements.
These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State for England and the Welsh Ministers for Wales under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, amend the primary Bathing Water Regulations 2013.
The changes involve updating definitions, establishing new criteria to restrict the identification of bathing waters based on feasibility, cost, or safety risks, granting flexibility in setting the official bathing season duration, modifying procedures for waters classified as 'poor' for five consecutive years by introducing a reconsideration period, and updating requirements for monitoring and reporting short-term pollution and annual data.
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.