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748 results

  • Possession of wild bird eggs: Establishing the grounds for an offence

    Possessing and taking wild birds’ eggs is an offence. However, until 2004, if a person charged with possessing wild birds’ eggs could show that the egg(s) had not been taken in contravention of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 they had a defence; known as the ‘Pre-1981 Defence’. In 2004, to comply with the EU Wild Birds Directive, Defra and the Welsh Government amended the definition of "wild bird” in the 1981 Act. This amendment also narrowed the defence to the... More
    Opened 14 October 2014

  • Cornish Cyder Brandy Technical File consultation

    The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the draft technical file for Cornish Cyder Brandy, which will form the basis of a new application for a Cornish Cyder Brandy Geographical Indicaiton (GI). Cornish Cyder Brandy is currently produced by Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, who are responsible for the content of the draft technical file. Views are welcome from those with interests in the manufacture of spirit drinks in the UK, including retailers and consumer representatives. These... More
    Opened 28 October 2014

  • Isles of Scilly Water Legislation Consultation

    Various key pieces of water legislation within England that protect public and environmental health do not apply to the Isles of Scilly (or have only been applied in part). Such legislative gaps mean that the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and Environment Agency (EA) have no enforcement powers in relation to water on the islands. This means that residents on and visitors to the Isles of Scilly (IoS) may not enjoy the same level of public health and environmental protection as is available... More
    Opened 20 November 2014

  • Designation of Rayrigg Meadow Windermere as a bathing water

    We have received an application from South Lakeland District Council for Rayrigg Meadow, Windermere to be designated as a bathing water under the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC, revised by 2006/7/EC). Evidence in support of the application is set out in the consultation document, which also shows the location of the bathing area. More
    Opened 24 November 2014

  • Consultation on proposed measures to implement elements of EU Regulation 1257/2013 on ship recycling relating to the authorisation of UK ship recycling facilities

    Seeking views on the measures required to establish the most appropriate approach for ensuring compliance with EU Regulation 1257/2013 on ship recycling. This is a joint consultation between Defra and the Department of Environment Northern Ireland and relates to the introduction of draft GB and draft Northern Ireland 2015 Regulations. The EU Regulation imposes an obligation on ship recycling facilities wishing to undertake recycling activities on ships that exceed 500 gross tonnes and flying... More
    Opened 10 December 2014

  • Retail exits reform: how we plan to implement new regulations

    The Water Act 2014 introduces reforms that will enable the water sector to deliver increased resilience, increased customer choice and support economic growth. An important part of these reforms is the extension of competition into the retail market for non-household water and sewerage services. This means that all non-household customers, such as businesses, charities and public sector organisations, will be able to switch from their local monopoly water company (the “undertaker”) to... More
    Opened 10 December 2014

  • Making flood defence consents part of the environmental permitting framework

    This is an invitation to give your views on various aspects of the Government’s proposals to integrate flood defence consents into the Environmental Permitting regime which has been launched today. The following listed documents may be found in the related documents section below and on Defra’s website at: Consultation document Annex 1; proposed exemptions Annex 2; proposed exclusions Impact Assessment These documents relate to this consultation by Department for... More
    Opened 10 December 2014

  • Consultation on the draft Control of Waste (Dealing with Seized Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015

    This consultation invites views on proposals for new Regulations on the seizure of vehicles in relation to offences concerning waste. The aim of the draft Control of Waste (Dealing with Seized Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (the draft Regulations) is to help the Governments in England and Wales reduce illegal waste activity, including fly-tipping, by giving enforcement authorities (local authorities, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales) more effective tools to... More
    Opened 15 December 2014

  • Implementing the new EU Flourinated Greenhouse Gas Regulations

    Implementing the new EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation Summary: Seeking views on implementing provisions of the new EU F-gases regulation and on the assessment of impact on business. Detail: We want to know what you think about our plans to implement the main provisions of the [EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas regulations]( http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/index_en.htm ) in the UK. We also want your views on our assessment of the cost of the new domestic legislation on... More
    Opened 16 December 2014

  • Review of Local Air Quality Management (England) - regulatory and guidance changes

    The purpose of this consultation is to invite views on our proposals to improve Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) delivery in England. This is a follow-up consultation to one issued in July 2013. This latest consultation contains a number of proposals to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens in line with commitments made under the Red Tape Challenge, and to improve the overall effectiveness of LAQM in dealing with current air quality challenges. The attached consultation... More
    Opened 19 December 2014

  • Marine Licensing: Recovery of Cases For SoS determination

    We are seeking your views on a proposal to enable the Secretary of State to recover certain marine licence decisions for her own determination. As well as strengthening the democratic process, the proposal may enhance the working arrangements between developers and local communities ensuring issues of local concern are resolved before a proposal reaches the marine licensing application stage. More
    Opened 14 January 2015

  • Common Fisheries Policy: Implementation of the demersal landing obligation (discard ban) in England

    We are seeking your views on our proposals to implement the landing obligation in England for demersal fisheries. The landing obligation puts an end to the wasteful practise of discarding, thus preventing fish being thrown back into the sea, dead, after being caught. The phased introduction of a landing obligation, also known as a “discard ban”, was one of the key successes the UK Government secured in reforming the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The reform is designed to deliver... More
    Opened 23 January 2015

  • Consultation on amendments to the Government Guidance on the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009

    Batteries Regulations: consultation on amendments to the Government Guidance on the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 to clarify the definition of what constitutes a “portable battery". The proposed amendment will provide a clearer framework to help interpretation of whether a battery “can be hand-carried by an average person without difficulty”. It will remove the 4kg -10kg “grey area” and state a clear weight limit to determine whether a battery can be “hand... More
    Opened 26 January 2015

  • Captive bred birds: changing how we regulate trading in England, Scotland and Wales

    To protect wild birds, which can be illegally taken from the wild for commercial gain, trade in captive bred birds is regulated in England, Scotland and Wales. This consultation concerns commonly kept smaller birds listed on Part 1 Schedule 3 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ( as amended ) and does not apply to game birds. Schedule 3 birds can be sold if they meet certain requirements e.g. are ringed. Some birds not listed on Schedule 3 can be sold by people relying on a... More
    Opened 28 January 2015

  • Consultation on the Second Tranche of Marine Conservation Zones

    This consultation is to seek your views on whether it would be appropriate to designate each of the 23 proposed Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in the second tranche and to add new features for conservation in 10 of the first tranche MCZs. MCZs, together with other types of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), will form the UK contribution to an international ecologically coherent network of MPAs and help to deliver the vision of clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans... More
    Opened 30 January 2015

  • Reducing unused licences (latent capacity) in the English 10 metre and under fishing sector

    We want to know what you think about current levels of latent capacity in the English 10 metre and under finfish and shellfish sectors. We would also like your views on how to reduce latent capacity to help to solve any problems. Latent capacity means the number of licences issued to allow fishing for quota species, which are not used. It also describes licences issued and used to catch 300kg quota species or less a year. The term is also used for rights (entitlements) to catch shellfish,... More
    Opened 10 February 2015

  • Proposed changes to the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations

    In relation to the regulation of trade in endangered species in the United Kingdom (UK) we are seeking views on proposed changes to the legislation which helps to deliver our obligations arising from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We are proposing to update the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (COTES) Regulations to reflect changes already established by the EU regulations which implement CITES in the UK, remove anomalies,... More
    Opened 10 February 2015

  • Waste crime: consultation on proposals to enhance enforcement powers at regulated facilities; and call for evidence on other measures to tackle waste crime and entrenched poor performance in the waste management industry

    We are seeking views on enhancing enforcement powers and other measures to tackle waste crime and persistent poor performance in England and Wales. More
    Opened 26 February 2015

  • Review of approach to issuing animal test certificates for veterinary medicines

    Animal test certificates are issued by the VMD to permit the use of a veterinary medicine in a clinical field trial, to allow the procurement and supply of that veterinary medicine and to enable produce from treated animals to enter the food chain. Clinical field trials have the specific purpose of making observations on the safety or efficacy, or both, of an unauthorised veterinary medicine administered by a veterinary surgeon in the course of treating or preventing a disease in... More
    Opened 27 February 2015

  • The Bodmin Moor Commons Council Establishment Order

    Consultation on whether there is substantial support for the Order which would establish the Bodmin Moor Commons Council. More
    Opened 13 March 2015

  • Consultation on changes to the Producer Responsilbilty regimes for batteries and packaging

    The Government proposes to amend the producer responsibility regimes for batteries and packaging across the UK. The proposed changes amend the: The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. Producer Responsibility Obligation (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007. Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007. The consultation paper also seeks evidence to help underpin a review of the waste plastic packaging... More
    Opened 27 March 2015

  • Water industry charging: guidance to Ofwat

    The Water Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 14th May 2014. It introduces changes in legislation to enable the water and sewerage sectors to deliver increased resilience, improved customer service and to support economic growth. An important aspect of these reforms is that they allow competition to be increased in the non-household retail and upstream parts of the industry. The Act also sets out a new framework for the regulation of charging in the water industry. This is necessary to... More
    Opened 9 July 2015

  • Consultation on proposals to introduce language controls for migrant EU veterinary surgeons

    Defra are inviting views on proposed amendments to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA) regarding language testing controls in the UK for EU migrant vets. Please see the consultation letter and consultation background document for further information. How to respond: Please visit our online survey link below. Alternatively, if you wish to respond by other means, please contact us at rcvsconsultation@defra.gov.uk . More
    Opened 22 July 2015

  • Retail exits reform: draft regulations

    The Water Act 2014 (WA14) introduces reforms that will allow the water sector to achieve increased resilience, increased customer choice and support economic growth. These include changes that will allow more competition in the retail market for non-household water and sewerage services. 'Retail’ services incorporate all customer-facing activities such as billing, meter reading and dealing with enquiries. These are distinct from the ‘wholesale’ or ‘upstream’ activities involved in... More
    Opened 23 July 2015

  • The revised Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice

    The Duty of Care is a legal requirement for those dealing with certain kinds of waste to take all reasonable steps to keep it safe and is set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA). It applies to anyone who is a holder of household, industrial and commercial waste, known as controlled waste. The purpose of the Code of Practice is to give simple, clear and practical guidance on what those who import, produce, carry, keep, treat or dispose of controlled waste have to do to... More
    Opened 27 July 2015

  • Proposal to remove Staithes from the list of designated bathing waters

    The Bathing Water Directive protects bathers' health at popular beaches and inland waters by requiring water quality to be monitored for intestinal enterococci and E.coli during the bathing season, which in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. The Directive applies to waters that are used by a large number of bathers and where bathing is supported and promoted by the local authority or private owner. There are currently 406 beaches and 12 lakeside sites in England that are designated as... More
    Opened 10 August 2015

  • Proposal to remove Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach from the list of bathing waters

    The Bathing Water Directive protects bathers' health at popular beaches and inland waters by requiring water quality to be monitored for intestinal enterococci and E.coli during the bathing season, which in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. The Directive applies to waters that are used by a large number of bathers and where bathing is supported and promoted by the local authority or private owner. There are currently 406 beaches and 12 lakeside sites in England that are designated as... More
    Opened 10 August 2015

  • Proposal to remove Newhaven from the list of designated bathing waters

    The Bathing Water Directive protects bathers' health at popular beaches and inland waters by requiring water quality to be monitored for intestinal enterococci and E.coli during the bathing season, which in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. The Directive applies to waters that are used by a large number of bathers and where bathing is supported and promoted by the local authority or private owner. There are currently 406 beaches and 12 lakeside sites in England that are designated as... More
    Opened 10 August 2015

  • Consultation on guidance to Natural England on licences to control the risk of bovine tuberculosis from badgers.

    We want to know what you think about our proposed licence changes. They will provide more flexibility in the control of badger populations in areas where bovine TB is a problem and will increase the potential to achieve disease control benefits. The proposals would apply to applications to Natural England for a licence from 2016 onwards. More
    Opened 28 August 2015

  • Improving TB cattle controls, including a proposal for statutory post-movement testing

    Defra is inviting views from stakeholders on a proposal for statutory TB post-movement testing of cattle moved (directly or via a market) from herds in Great Britain on annual (or more frequent) surveillance testing to all herds in the Low Risk Area (LRA) of England. This new policy would not apply to cattle slaughtered within 120 days of arrival at the destination herd in the LRA. A small number of other post-movement testing exemptions are also proposed. Also included within this... More
    Opened 28 August 2015
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