Environmental offences

There are a wide range of environmental offences under a number of different regimes.

For information on some of these regimes and applicable offences, see the following Practice Notes:

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Anti-social behaviour—environmental breaches
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Transfrontier shipment of waste—offences, enforcement and penalties
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Control of asbestos—penalties
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Environmental Permitting Regulations

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Latest Environment News

Defra announces North Sea fishing agreement for 2025 with EU and Norway

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced the outcome of trilateral negotiations with the EU and Norway, securing fishing opportunities in the North Sea and surrounding waters for 2025. This agreement grants the UK fleet access to over 290,000 tonnes of North Sea stocks, worth up to £310m. Catch limits have been established for six key fish stocks, including cod, haddock, herring, plaice, saithe, and whiting. Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and UK quotas have been outlined for each stock, with certain quotas reduced, and others increased compared to 2024 levels. The outcome of annual fisheries negotiations will be published in the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed's determination of fishing opportunities for British boats by the end of 2024. In addition, bilateral negotiations with the EU, Norway, and the Faroe Islands are ongoing.

MHCLG and DESNZ consult on Energy Performance of Buildings regime reforms

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have launched a joint consultation on proposed reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) regime. The consultation seeks views on several measures aimed at improving the regime across five key areas: updating what Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) measure through additional metrics, updating when energy certificates are required by refining the rules for obtaining EPCs and Display Energy Certificates (DECs), managing energy certificate quality, improving the accessibility of building performance data, and strengthening the quality of air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs). The consultation closes on 26 February 2025.

Council and Parliament agree to delay deforestation law application

The Council of the EU and European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement to postpone the application of the EU deforestation regulation by 12 months. The new rules will now apply from 30 December 2025 for large operators and traders, and from 30 June 2026 for micro- and small enterprises.

Defra concludes RFI on substances proposed as POPs

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has concluded its request for information (RFI) on two chemical substances proposed as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to the UN's Stockholm Convention’s POP Review Committee (POPRC). Defra received a total of ten responses: five concerning polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PXDD/Fs), which have been incorporated into the UK's Annex E submission to POPRC, and five related to medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), which will inform the UK's position before the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-12), scheduled for April or May 2025.