Environment | UK Regulatory Outlook March 2024

BNG requirements for small sites come into effect from April 2024

As detailed in last month's Regulatory Outlook, the biodiversity net gain (BNG) regime went live in England on 12 February 2024, with a temporary exemption for small sites. However, from 2 April 2024 these obligations will start to apply to small sites, for example a residential development where the number of dwellings is between one and nine – or if this is unknown, where the site area is less than 0.5 hectares. Read our Insight for more on these obligations and what businesses should do.

UK government consultation on introduction of CBAM

Following its announcement of plans to introduce a UK carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) from 1 January 2027, the government has, on 21 March, launched a consultation on the proposal.

The CBAM will be applied to imports of certain carbon-intensive imported goods from the following sectors: aluminium, cement, ceramics, fertilisers, glass, hydrogen, and iron and steel. The government is seeking views on the scope of sector and goods to which the CBAM will apply, calculating the UK CBAM liability, and the administration, payment and compliance of the mechanism.

The consultation closes on 13 June 2024 and businesses should review the consultation and decide whether they wish to respond.

The consultation document also notes that the government will look to establish voluntary product standards that businesses could choose to adopt to help promote their low carbon products to consumers. This will be subject to a further technical consultation in 2024.

Extended producer responsibility for packaging waste: reporting changes coming into force 1 April 2024

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CSDD gets through vote from Council of the EU

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European Parliament adopts first reading position on Green Claims Directive

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EU directive to empower consumers for the green transition published in the Official Journal of the EU

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