These regulations amend the Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 in Northern Ireland only.

Rules on equipment for use outdoors are updated to reflect changes to EU rules since Brexit. Northern Ireland remains subject to EU rules on products.

These regulations brought further sections of the Environment Act 2021 into force in Wales.

The Welsh Ministers now publish and maintain lists of authorised fuels and exempted fireplaces authorised for use in smoke control areas. New legislation is no longer required to update these lists.

These regulations amend the Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) Regulations 2021.

The amending regulations delay full import checks on qualifying plants, plant products and certain other objects arriving at designated West Cost Ports, where these goods arose from the EU, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. This delay is to operate until 31 January 2027.

Directive (EU) 2025/794 amended the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) (EU) 2022/2464 and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) (EU) 2024/1760.

Deadlines for mandatory corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations will be deferred. EU Member States are required to transpose these changes into national law by 31 December 2025. 

This Act includes financial policies relevant to the environment.

Updated rates of the climate change levy are set for 1 April 2026 onwards. Increased rates of the landfill tax, plastic packaging tax and aggregates tax are applied from 1 April 2025.

The Act also includes powers to prepare for the introduction of a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (UK CBAM) from 2027.

These regulations will amend the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 and Energy Information Regulations 2011. The amendments align the Northern Irish version of these regulations with updated EU Ecodesign and energy labelling requirements.

Updated Ecodesign requirements will apply to equipment including household tumble dryers, space heaters, smartphones, mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets.

This order will reintroduce onshore wind generating stations to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime in England.

The capacity threshold determining whether an onshore wind or solar project constitutes an NSIP will also be set at 100 MW. Onshore solar projects currently constitute NSIPs where these have a capacity of 50 MW or greater.

This EU Regulation sets out rules for the application, assessment, reassessment and administration of authorised EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism declarants (CBAM declarants).

This supports the introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM). The EU CBAM is currently in the transitional phase, with the full regime operating from 2026.