FREE UPDATE 4 was covered in a previous free update. You have been transferred to this month’s free update.
This Directive will establish a soil monitoring framework for all soils in the territory of EU Member States. Member States will be required to assess soil health, support soil resilience and identify and manage contaminated sites.
Regular soil assessments will be required and national registers will need to be established for potentially contaminated or contaminated sites.
These regulations will amend the Clean Heat Market Mechanism Regulations 2025. Low-carbon heat targets will increase from 1 April 2026.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme will become the only recognised certification standard.
The definition of a ‘hybrid heating system’ will also be updated so that systems combining a heat pump and a fossil fuel appliance are not required to provide hot water where the building does not need it.
These regulations will amend the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.
Exemptions for charities have been clarified and new provisions will manage the transfer of obligations due to corporate mergers or changes in brand ownership.
Producers will also be able to offset fees for food-grade plastic packaging waste that is collected and recycled through a qualifying closed-loop system.
This order will amend the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 to make providing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings a regulated activity where they are likely to influence investment decisions.
Firms providing ESG ratings within this scope will be required to be authorised and supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
