The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for an alleged failure to comply with environmental law by not adopting its first Environmental Improvement Plan. The OEP’s investigation began on 3 June 2024, but details have only been released recently due to the period of sensitivity leading up to the general election.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into potential breaches of the Water Framework Directive Regulations by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency, mandated by section 33(2) of the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021). The investigation follows OEP's May 2024 report identifying implementation failures likely to result in missed 2027 water quality targets. The investigation runs parallel to the pending Pickering Fishery Association appeal case, where OEP has intervened and aims to clarify regulatory requirements while accelerating progress towards environmental objectives.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' (Defra) emergency authorisation of the neonicotinoid pesticide ‘Cruiser SB’ on sugar beet seeds in 2023 and 2024. In particular, the investigation is considering Defra’s interpretation and application of the precautionary principle and compliance with its nature conservation obligations when it considers granting emergency authorisations.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into the legality of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s Statutory Guidance on applying the Farming Rules for Water. The OEP contends that the guidance, issued in 2022, may be unlawful due to inconsistencies with the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, potentially resulting in breaches when farmers apply manure or fertiliser to land. An Information Notice has also been issued to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, detailing these possible failures, with further action to be determined based on the response received. This investigation stems from a complaint lodged by the World Wide Fund for Nature-UK and ClientEarth.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched investigations into the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Secretary of State (SOS) and Natural England for possible failures to comply with environmental law relating to special protection areas (SPAs) for wild birds. This includes possible failures to implement the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's and other conservation public bodies' recommendations on the classification and adaptation of SPAs as well as their general duties to protect and maintain wild bird populations.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its 2023-24 report on progress in improving the natural environment in England. The report, covering the period from April 2023 to March 2024, highlights a deceleration in environmental improvement compared to the previous year and concludes that the government is largely off track to meet its legal environmental obligations. The OEP warns that without substantial changes, key targets, such as the 30 by 30 target for land and sea, will not be met. The report indicates that the government is largely off track in seven out of ten Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 (EIP23) goal areas, including the apex goal of achieving 'thriving plants and wildlife', as well as for 20 out of the 43 environmental targets and commitments. While progress has been made in reducing emissions of certain air pollutants like PM2.5, the government is falling behind in most EIP23 goal areas, such as nature, freshwater and marine environments, and waste.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its fourth statutory report on progress in improving the natural environment in England, assessing delivery of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) during the annual reporting period from April 2024 to March 2025.  While some improvement is noted, the government remains largely off track to meet legally binding targets under the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021) and EIP ambitions for biodiversity and land and sea protection by 2030.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published evidence submitted on 21 May 2026 to the Environmental Audit Committee's (EAC) inquiry into HM Treasury (HMT) and the economics of climate and nature. The OEP highlights the importance of HMT's spending reviews, budgets and appraisals in supporting delivery of the Environmental Improvement Plan and legally binding targets under the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021). It calls for long-term funding certainty, clearer nature recovery spending baselines and greater private finance mobilisation, including evidence on the nature finance gap. The OEP welcomes references to the Environmental Principles Policy Statement (EPPS) duty and statutory targets in the revised HMT Green Book, but has not yet observed their impact on policy proposals. It welcomes HMT's requirement for departments to address EA 2021 targets in 2025 spending review bids, but seeks greater transparency over how this information informs decisions and how EPPS assessments are applied. It considers departments submitting funding bids and business cases should demonstrate how due regard has been paid to the EPPS, noting exemptions for HMT policies on taxation, spending and resource allocation.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a report concluding that Northern Ireland's Nutrient Action Programme Regulations, which have been in place since 2019, are insufficient to improve water quality and require strengthening. The report finds that the current regulations will not deliver legally binding targets for achieving a good ecological status of water bodies, nor will they meet the objectives outlined in Northern Ireland’s 2024 Environmental Improvement Plan. Furthermore, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is legally mandated to review these regulations every four years and a second consultation on revised proposals is expected in the coming months.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its first progress report on Northern Ireland's Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), finding that the Executive is unlikely to meet many of its environmental ambitions, targets and outcomes unless action is accelerated. The OEP says commitments in the EIP and the Programme for Government have established a foundation for environmental improvement, but the current pace and scale of action are insufficient to deliver the changes needed to achieve the plan's objectives. While some progress has been made, the report found that many ambitions, targets and outcomes remain largely off track. The report states that the Executive's chances of meeting its environmental objectives would improve if planned measures are delivered effectively, delays are addressed and departments are adequately resourced. It also highlights the need to tackle nutrient pollution, accelerate the transition to a circular economy and support nature recovery. The assessment reviews progress during 2024/25 and evaluates the likelihood of achieving ambitions, targets and outcomes across six strategic environmental outcomes and 18 themes covered by the EIP.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its investigation report into emergency authorisations granted by Defra for neonicotinoid pesticide Cruiser SB on sugar beet seeds, covering applications made in 2023 and 2024. Of six investigation grounds, the OEP found failures to comply with environmental law on four, including failures under the Habitats Regulations 2017 to carry out appropriate assessments of impacts on protected sites, and failures under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to further the conservation of designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and consider whether authorisations were likely to damage those sites. No failures were found regarding the precautionary principle or the Environmental Principles Policy Statement (EPPS). Defra has committed to updating its emergency authorisation assessment process. The OEP has closed the investigation with no further regulatory action and noted that it will monitor the implementation of the updated process, which is due to be in place by November 2026.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its final investigative report, confirming that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) failed to comply with environmental law regarding its previous ammonia emissions advice (Operational Protocol). The OEP also confirmed that the guidance, which replaced the Operational Protocol, known as the ‘Interim Framework’, does not constitute a breach of environmental law.  The DAERA is expected to publish a new operational protocol alongside its Ammonia Strategy later this year. The OEP’s report comprises recommendations for the DAERA to consider in the development of its future operational protocol.