The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), together with the devolved administrations, has launched a consultation on the third update of the UK Marine Strategy (UKMS) Part One. The consultation seeks views on the updated assessment of Good Environmental Status (GES) for UK seas and on the proposed objectives, targets and indicators for the next six-year cycle. The assessment incorporates findings from the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the North East Atlantic Quality Status Report 2023 and evaluates progress towards targets established in 2019. The proposals apply to all marine waters under UK jurisdiction.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched consultations on five new draft Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) aimed at securing and improving the long-term sustainability of UK fish stocks, supporting the UK fishing industry, and fostering growth in coastal communities. The plans cover North Sea and Channel sprat (developed jointly with the Scottish Government and covering English and Scottish waters), Cockle, Queen scallop, Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays, and Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species. The consultations will close on 19 January 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched four consultations on the renewal of specific exemptions under the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012, SI 2012/3032 (RoHS regulations). These consultations cover exemptions for the use of: (1) lead in bearings and bushes of diesel or gaseous fuelled internal combustion engines; (2) mercury in discharge lamps for special purposes; (3) cadmium in helium lasers for Raman spectroscopy; and (4) lead solder in control units of combustion engines. Defra seeks stakeholder views on whether the renewal of each exemption is justified. All consultations close on 4 May 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a UK-based science network to help experts and academics gather evidence on the environmental impact of deep-sea mining. Members of the network can collate their expertise, helping the UK to enforce high environmental standards on deep sea mining.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is exploring alternative approaches to managing fishing quotas in England and crown dependencies. Two trials have been launched: a three-year trial in Cornwall, which commenced in 2024, aimed at supporting new entrants to the industry, and a quota application mechanism trial launched by the Marine Management Organisation and Defra. The quota application mechanism trial invites producer organisations with English-registered vessels and non-sectoral over-10-metre vessels to apply directly for a share of the English quota.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced new plans in further efforts to reverse nature’s decline. From 1 April, sandeel fisheries in English waters of the North Sea will be permanently closed, protecting a vital food source for some of the most vulnerable seabirds and marine mammals. A targeted ban on bottom trawling in 13 Marine Protected Areas has been announced, protecting pink sea fans, fragile sponges and anemones. There are 34 projects across England which have received £7m in government funding to improve management of peatland. A new framework for National Parks and National Landscapes has also been announced, which includes plans for tree planting and peatland restoration. The framework builds on the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan targets and contributes to its COP28 commitments, particularly for protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (30by30).

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched two calls for evidence in separate consultations to gather evidence and views to support reforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013, SI 2013/3113.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a call for comments from the Stockholm Convention’s Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC). The call seeks input on a revised draft risk profile for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBCDD/Fs), excluding polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), following the POPRC’s conclusion hat these substances meet the screening criteria set out in Annex D of the Stockholm Convention, but not those in Annex C. Responses will inform whether the UK submits comments ahead of the POPRC meeting in September 2026. The comment period closes on 1 May 2026.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has opened a six-week call for information on the implementation of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, seeking stakeholder views on the business impacts and government support requirements related to this initiative. The SPS agreement, which targets a mid-2027 implementation date, will eliminate regulatory certificates, checks and paperwork for most agri-food goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, while still maintaining the Windsor Framework. The call for information will close on 23 April 2026.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has opened a consultation on the draft Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2026, proposing to add five new substances to Annex I of the assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation). The substances are: (1) medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs); (2) long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs); (3) UV-328; (4) dechlorane plus (DP) and (5) chlorpyrifos. Comments are also invited on proposed changes to the existing entry perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS), as well as the implications of recent EU amendments relating to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). It invites input on evaluation processes, evidence generation and engagement on potential new POPs under the Stockholm Convention. Respondents are further invited to provide evidence on the implications of recent or upcoming amendments to the EU POPs Regulation, as applicable in Northern Ireland, and on the suitability of equivalent amendments being implemented in Great Britain. The consultation closes on 13 May 2026.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in conjunction with Scottish and Welsh Governments, has published a policy paper setting out the rationale for prioritising substances for potential regulatory action under the UK REACH work programme for 2025–26. As part of the programme, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will consult on proposals to develop a UK REACH restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fire-fighting foams. The programme will also continue the review and granting of specific authorisations where appropiate. In addition, it includes a review of the interim principles for Candidate List additions published under the previous government, along with HSE recommendations for substances of very high concern from the Candidate List to be added to Annex 14.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a fourfold increase in water company inspections to 4,000 per year by the end of March 2025, and to 10,000 per year from April 2026. This also includes a rise in unannounced inspections in an effort to tackle pollution within the water sector. The increased inspections and enforcement is said to receive approximately £55m in aid per year, which will be funded by a rise in grant-in-aid from Defra to the EA, as well as extra funding from water quality permit fees levied on water companies, subject to a consultation ending in March 2024.