The Simplifi Team would like to express their best wishes to all for the Festive Season and for the year of 2022.

In our December newsletter we report on two regulations concerning green gas and merchant shipping in the polar region.  We also report on amendments to regulations for radio-communications for merchant shipping, the carriage of dangerous goods, building, the restriction of hazardous substances, ozone depleting substances, the tax on plastic packaging, renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emission trading.  There is an amendment to Republic of Ireland legislation and two to EU law.  DEFRA is consulting on secondary legislation to support the new Environment Act.  There are three items of relevant news and two prosecutions of note.

HSE is consulting proposals to amend the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/551 . Consultation closes 23rd March.  The proposals for amendments to GSMR aim to maintain and improve safety standards in gas transmission and distribution, whilst diversifying permitted gas sources to ensure Great Britain can continue to meet its energy needs as we transition to a net zero future. https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/hse/cd291-revision-gas-safety-management-regulations

RI 2022/288. European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2022. Legislation posted 15th June.  Amends the European Communities Environmental (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009 (RI 2009/272).  Amends the regulations by adding a new section on artificial and heavily modified surface status classifications.

EU law

SI 2023/96. The Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023.  Comes into force 31st January. These Regulations set a target for PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) in ambient and a long-term target to reduce population exposure to PM2.5.