Lord Taylor entered the House of Lords in 2006, having been made a life peer as Baron Taylor of Holbeach, of South Holland in the County of Lincolnshire.

He has been Government spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, Energy and Climate Change, and Work and Pensions since 2010. He has also served as a Whip in the House of Lords. He was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 for political service, and served as Chairman of the National Conservative Convention from 2000 to 2003.

Notes

Lord Taylor will take over responsibility for the portfolio previously held by Lord Henley.

Lord Henley has been appointed Minister of State at the Home Office.

Seven other members have also been appointed – Professors Ian Bateman, Louise Heathwaite, Peter Liss, Quintin McKellar, Judith Petts, Peter Smith and Lynda Warren. The appointments will run from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2014.

These appointments have been made in accordance with guidance issued by the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).  All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

The SAC was established to provide support to Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) so that he can independently challenge and promote the use of evidence in policy making in Defra.  The SAC reports through the CSA to Ministers and the Defra Board. The Council also has the power to report directly to Ministers if necessary.

The Chair will take responsibility for the operation and output of SAC, supported by Council members.  The SAC will collectively challenge and support the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser in ensuring that the evidence programme meets Defra’s   needs, and will independently assure and challenge the evidence underpinning Defra policies.

Members may claim remuneration and reasonable travel expenses.  The current rate of remuneration is £375 per day for the Chair and £275 for members.

The Science Advisory Council is a non-departmental public body that was reconstituted last year following an independent review of Defra’s scientific bodies.

Biographical details

Professor Christopher Gilligan

Professor Gilligan is Head of the School of Biological Sciences and Professor of Mathematical Biology, University of Cambridge. He also holds Professorial Fellowship at King’s College and is Head of the Epidemiology and Modelling Group in the Department of Plant Sciences.

His research has developed and tested a suite of models to predict invasion persistence and control of botanical epidemics in agricultural and natural environments.

Professor Ian Bateman

Professor Bateman is Professor of Environmental Economics and Director of the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment at the University of East Anglia.

His main research interests are integrated environmental and economic modelling for decision making, formation and valuation of preferences for non-market goods and services, applying geographic information system (GIS) and experimental techniques to empirical problems, and working with policy makers to address real world environmental resource management issues. He is Head of Economics for the UK National Ecosystem Assessment.

Professor Louise Heathwaite

Professor Heathwaite is Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainable Water Management in the Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University. She also works part-time as a science champion for the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as Theme Leader for the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources theme.

Her research expertise is in land and water systems science. She has over 25 years research experience in diffuse nutrient pollution, wetland hydrochemistry, and water quality.   Her applied research interests cut across the environmental sciences to interface with social science and economics.

Professor Peter Liss

Professor Liss has been based in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia for the past 40 years researching and teaching many aspects of environmental chemistry.  He is an environmental scientist whose research has focused on the biogeochemical interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere specialising in the processes of air-sea gas exchange, the mechanisms of trace gas formation in the oceans, and their reactivity and role in the atmosphere.

He has previously served as chairman of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), and was subsequently Chair of its Surface Ocean – Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS).   He was a member of the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council for 5 years, and until recently was a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

Professor Quintin McKellar

Professor McKellar is Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire. He was previously Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

His research interests are in the pharmacology of anti-infective and anti-inflammatory drugs in domestic animals. He has been a member of the Biological and Biotechnological Research Council, the Government’s Veterinary Products Committee, Special Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance, Regulatory Agency Strategy Board, and Chairman of its Scientific Advisory Committee on Bovine Tuberculosis.

Professor Judith Petts

Professor Petts is Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton. Her research has focused on environmental risk governance and response to environmental and health hazards in areas such as climate change, energy, waste management, land contamination, natural hazards, and health and wellbeing.

Professor Petts holds one other Ministerial appointment as a member of Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre Steering Group.

Professor Peter Smith

Professor Smith is Professor of Soils and Global Change at the University of Aberdeen’s Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and the Science Director of the Scottish Climate Change Centre of Expertise.

His main research interests are soil carbon, greenhouse gas emissions, biogeochemistry, global change impacts on ecosystems, and bio-energy. He has coordinated and participated in many national and international projects on soils,agriculture,greenhouse gases,climate change mitigation and impacts,and ecosystem modelling.

Professor Lynda Warren

Professor Warren is Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law at Aberystwyth University.

Her research interests centre on how law and science are used in developing and implementing environmental policy, focusing on two main areas – radioactive waste management and nature conservation.

Professor Warren holds three other Ministerial appointments: Deputy Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Member of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, and Chair (honorarium) of the Wales Coastal and Maritime Partnership.

Under the Responsibility Deal, a key commitment in the recently-published Waste Review, the Government will work with the Environmental Services Association (ESA) to help businesses prevent waste and recycle more of the waste they do produce.

Businesses across the UK have the potential to save up to £18 billion a year by taking steps to reduce waste that will cost them either nothing or very little in the short term.

The Responsibility Deal will make it easier for businesses to do the right thing and save money, such as by improving recycling services for small and medium businesses and giving them better information on what they can do to prevent and deal with waste.

Lord Henley said:

“This is a groundbreaking deal that will help to boost growth in the green economy. Businesses will benefit from more user-friendly waste management services and better advice on how to deal with their waste, while the Government will be looking for ways to recognise good performance by waste management companies and in particular to cut red tape for those who are doing the right thing.”

ESA Chairman Ian Goodfellow said:

“The waste and resource management sector is a vibrant industry with a great future. We are investing several billions of pounds to recycle and recover value from more of England’s waste. We believe we can provide solutions to many of the challenges set out in the Waste Review, and this Responsibility Deal shows how we are committed to working with our customers and with communities to do just that. And we welcome the Government’s commitment to play its part through the Responsibility Deal, for example by ensuring the public sector buys recycled products and  by encouraging local authorities to put in place infrastructure more quickly.”

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:

“This Responsibility Deal with the waste management industry is very welcome. It is a good example of the way alternatives to regulation can work to achieve better waste management and recycling services for SMEs, and encourage better sorting of recyclable material to help the recycling industry.”

The Government and the Environmental Services Association will work with the Federation of Small Businesses, other business trade bodies and chambers of commerce, and local government organisations to reduce the 165 million tonnes of waste produced each year and to turn waste into a resource. The ESA and FSB will also work together to develop and promote best practice on making contracts more user-friendly.

The deal will also promote consistent and proportionate enforcement by the Environment Agency, reduce red tape and other burdens on good performers, and maintain a level-playing field between public and private waste contractors.

Notes

Details of the Responsibility Deal can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/06/23/waste-responsibility-deal/.

The Responsibility Deal meets a commitment announced in the Government’s Review of Waste Policy published on 15 June: www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06/14/waste-review-published/.

Research published by Defra in March 2011 suggests that businesses could save around £18 billion by reducing waste and diverting it from landfill is available at http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=EV0441_10072_FRP.pdf.

The Responsibility Deal has been developed jointly by Defra and the Environmental Services Association who represent the waste and resource management sector. It reflects input from the Local Government Association, the Environment Agency and the Federation of Small Businesses.

As announced in the Government’s waste review, published last week, Defra will provide up to £2 million over the next three years to help fund the best new local projects that look into fresh ways to help people recycle more and produce less waste.  

Lord Henley said:

“People want to do the right thing and recycle more – and local communities know what’s best to make this happen.

“I want to tap into the ideas from the best and brightest local entrepreneurs and organisations to develop exciting and innovative new ways to boost our recycling rates even further.”

Community groups, charities and local authorities can bid for a share of the first £500,000 of funding until 26 July 2011, and Defra will begin advising successful applicants from 16 August.   

Funding will only be allocated to genuinely innovative projects that reward or recognise individuals or communities, and are tailored to local situations and different collection systems and housing types.

Rewards are not limited to financial incentives and could include vouchers, redemption points for local facilities, discounts on goods and services and donations to charities.

This could help councils and charities to achieve a win-win situation where people are encouraged to do their bit, less waste is sent to landfill and councils and charities can benefit financially.

Note to editors

Details on how to apply for Defra’s Reward and Recognition scheme can be found here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/consumer/reward-scheme/.

Defra published the Government’s Review of Waste policy on 14 June 2011: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06/14/waste-review-published/.

The recent dry weather which saw just 24 per cent of the average rainfall for April is likely to become a more frequent occurrence in the future due to the impacts of climate change. Therefore long term planning is needed to ensure sufficient water is available during hotter, drier summers.

Lord Henley issued the warning as Defra published reports from each water utility company which identify the risks that climate change will pose to their service, and what actions they are taking to address them. It follows a drought summit called by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman on Monday with water companies, farming groups and environmental organisations to make sure the country is prepared for the possibility of drought conditions following the long dry spell.

Lord Henley said:

“The recent exceptionally dry weather is a snapshot of what we might expect from climate change. Although there is no current need for drought measures, there has been understandable concern which underlines the importance of taking steps now to protect the water supply that could be under threat from a drier climate.”

“I’m delighted that these reports show the positive action water companies are already taking to address the long term risks of climate change, but with water integral to our very lives there is no time for complacency and more work needs to be done to secure the long term sustainability of our water supply.”

Lord Henley was speaking during a visit to Rutland Water reservoir where he saw work done by Anglian Water to improve the resilience of their water supply. The East of England is the driest region of the UK, which last month saw just 5mm of rainfall – 11 per cent of the monthly average.

Anglian Water has invested £116 million at Rutland for the construction of new pumping stations, a new water treatment works and 41km of pipes. It allows up to 25 per cent more water to be taken from the reservoir for people in Peterborough, Milton Keynes and Corby. The reservoir’s bird life is internationally protected so to prevent them being affected by any drop in water level the project also included a huge, 85 hectare network of new lagoons and wetlands to provide safe, top quality habitats for them and other wildlife. 

Peter Simpson, Anglian Water’s Managing Director, said:

“Our region is on the frontline in the fight against climate change, with less rain than the rest of the country, a fast growing population and large areas of land below sea level. We must be ready to keep the taps flowing, despite the growing water scarcity which more people and less rain may bring. So, in addition to investment like that at Rutland, everyone needs to do their bit to conserve water and to treat it as the precious resource it is.

“For our part, we are working hard to install water meters, to offer water-saving devices to our millions of customers and to keep leaks on our 40,000 km of water mains to a minimum. We have made huge efforts in recent months to repair the leaks and bursts caused by the worst winter in recent times.”

“Our first duty is to secure water supplies, but we have a duty to the natural environment too and that’s why we are so proud of the work done here at Rutland. It shows we can adapt and do so in a sustainable way. This is commerce and conservation working together to prepare for a more uncertain future.”

The reports identify that less rain, changing rainfall patterns and increased consumer demand in hot weather could affect water availability and recharging of reservoirs, and more treatment will be needed for poorer quality water or to remove increased levels of microbials during high temperatures.

Measures already taken include the construction of a West-East link pipeline by United Utilities to make it easier to transfer water across their supply area to meet demand, whilst Severn Trent plan to invest £202million between 2010 – 2015 to increase the security of water supply to 2.94million customers.

Updated adaptation plans from 16 Government departments have also been published today, setting out what each department has and will be doing to prepare for climate change.

Lord Henley added:

“Government departments have an important role in helping businesses and communities to prepare for climate change, and in leading by example by ensuring our own buildings and services are ready for the challenges ahead.  The Departmental Adaptation Plans show the importance of tackling climate change at the heart of Government.”

Over the coming months Defra will be publishing a total of 91 reports from major companies and agencies that provide other key services such as transport, energy and communications to assess their readiness for a changing climate. The reports will inform the UK’s first Climate Change Risk Assessment, to be published by Government in January 2012.

Notes

1. The Climate Change Act 2008 introduced a new power for the Environment Secretary to direct companies with functions of a public nature such as water and energy utilities to prepare climate change adaptation reports on how they are assessing and acting on the risks and opportunities from a changing climate.
2. The reports from water companies are available here http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/sectors/reporting-authorities/reporting-authorities-reports/
3. Water companies plan for water supplies over a 25 year period through their Water Resources Management Plans.  In their climate change adaptation reports, companies have broadened that view by looking at the risks from climate change across the range of their activities, from supplies to sewerage. Looking ahead enables the companies to adapt to climate change as part of their routine business.
4. Departmental Adaptation Plans were first published in March 2010. The updated reports published today reflect the new priorities of the current Government in adapting to climate change. The reports are available here http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/government/departmental-adaptation-plans/
5. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman held a drought summit on Monday attended by Water UK, the UK Irrigation Association, the NFU, Natural England, the Environment Agency, the Horticultural Trade Association, British Waterways and the department for Communities and Local Government.

A consultation published by Defra today sets out four options to achieve more widespread and consistent reporting.

Defra research has shown that reporting emissions has helped companies achieve reductions and cost savings, increase interest at board level of environmental issues and improve their environmental image with clients and investors.

Launching the consultation, Environment Minister Lord Henley said:

“We want to see more businesses reporting their emissions, but a balance has to be struck to ensure we are not adding any unnecessary burdens.

“Our aim is to increase the number of companies which actively manage and report their emissions, so we want to hear from businesses how they think we will achieve more widespread and consistent reporting.

“More consistent reporting of emissions should help investors make better use of such data and help them incorporate climate change risk more effectively into their investment decisions.”

“Many companies are already reporting their greenhouse gas emissions and seeing the benefits for themselves, because it’s not only good for the environment but also good for business. Companies found that they saved money by focussing attention on energy efficiency, improved their green image with consumers and became a more attractive proposition to potential investors.”

The Climate Change Act requires the government to look at introducing regulations requiring businesses to report their emissions. The consultation sets out three different options for mandatory reporting and one option for voluntary reporting. Defra is gathering views from businesses and other interested parties prior to taking that decision.

Defra will consider the responses to the consultation alongside other considerations such as the potential impact on business of each option, the government’s drive to reduce regulation where possible, and the review of current evidence which was published in November last year.

The consultation closes on 5 July 2011 and a decision on the direction the Government will take is expected to be made in the autumn.

Notes

1. Find the consultation here: www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/05/11/ghg-emissions/
2. Section 85 of the Climate Change Act requires the Government to decide whether to make corporate green house gas reporting mandatory by April 2012.
3. The review of current evidence can be viewed at: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/pdf/corporate-reporting101130.pdf

Their appointments will run until March 2014.

The appointments have been made in accordance with the guidance set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.  All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity to be made public.  No political activity has been declared.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body created under the National Heritage Act 1983, sponsored by Defra and which operates under a Board of Trustees. 

The Board of Trustees comprises a Chairman and 11 members. Ten members and the Chair are appointed by the Secretary of State.  Her Majesty the Queen appoints her own Trustee on the recommendation of the Secretary of State.

Biographies

Tessa Green

Tessa Green has had a long career in the National Health Service, holding positions as Chairman of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Founding Chairman of the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign, Chairman of the Royal Marsden Hospital Charity and a Trustee of the Institute of Cancer Research.

Following her previous role as Head of Corporate Affairs at Carlton Communications Plc, she qualified as a barrister. She has a longstanding interest in horticulture, botany and biodiversity issues.

Professor Michael Crawley

Professor Crawley is an ecologist and Professor of Biology at Imperial College, London, based at Silwood Park campus, Ascot, Berkshire. 

He has a passion for growing plants and developed the arboretum at Silwood Park, Ascot.  He is a fellow of the Royal Society with an international reputation for research into the factors affecting the distribution and abundance of plants.

The Guidance is designed to help consumers make more informed judgements about what they buy, prevent misleading claims and encourage the development of greener products.

As people look to purchase more products promising less environmental impact they often have to face a confusing array of advertising labels. More products enter the market every day and they tend to bring a new crop of environmental terms along with them – while recycling is well understood newer phrases like ‘negative carbon footprint’ can seem more confusing.

Research suggests that consumers find it difficult to know which products are better for the environment. At the same time, businesses faced with a crowded marketplace can find it difficult to communicate about genuine improvements they have made to their products.

Environment Minister Lord Henley said:

“Sales of ‘green’ goods contribute billions of pounds towards the economy while helping to reduce our impact on the environment. If people are making the effort to buy green it is only right that we try to make the process as easy as possible. Our guide will make things easier for both business and consumer – helping restore public faith in environmental advertising and acting as a resource for companies developing more sustainable products.”

Corporate Sustainability Manager for Marks & Spencer, Rowland Hill said:

“We welcome the new Green Claims Guidance which will help companies to market products and services that are more sustainable. It’s in everybody’s best interest that sustainable products are legitimately promoted to replace less sustainable alternatives. Marks & Spencer launched sustainability targets back in 2007 to help our customers live more sustainably and make informed choices about what they buy.”

Environment Manager for The Co-operative Food, Iain Ferguson said:

“We welcome Defra’s updated Guidance which is designed to make products’ environmental claims more robust for the benefit of customers while keeping abreast of a fast-developing market. We are delighted to have assisted in this review process, having applied the Guidance since it was first published in 2003.”

Defra’s new updated Guidance is informed by a suite of research and recommends that companies use clear language when making environmental claims. Findings indicated that while participants were familiar with a range of different terms, some phrases like ‘energy efficient’ were better understood than others such as ‘carbon negative’.

Businesses are encouraged to follow three key ‘steps’ in order to build consumer confidence in the environmental attributes of their products:

• Ensure the content of the claim is relevant and reflects a genuine benefit to the environment;
• Present the claim clearly and accurately; and
• Ensure the claim can be substantiated.

The Guidance is designed as a proactive toolkit – using principles and practical examples to help businesses get their green claims right. Read the full Guidance or the shorter ‘quick guide’.  

Notes

1. The Co-operative’s annual ethical consumerism report shows spending on ‘green’ products in Britain increased from £1.4bn 1999 to £7bn in 2009.

2. The Guidance is an update to Defra’s previous Green Claims – Practical Guidance (2003) and Green Claims Code (2000) reflecting changes in the market since that time. The Guidance went through public consultation in 2010 and is widely supported by industry as important to help provide clarity in the market.

3. The updated Guidance took into consideration the consultation responses and aimed to make the document more user-friendly with clearer examples to illustrate the principles. It also draws on wider research commissioned by Defra, including:

• Consumer understanding of green terms (Brook Lyndhurst and Icaro Consulting, 2011)
• An assessment of green claims in marketing (Brook Lyndhurst, Icaro Consulting and AAI+Friends, 2010)
• An assessment of green claims on products (Five Winds International, 2010)

4. The Guidance was updated with assistance of a steering group that included the Advertising Standards Authority, Advertising Association, Department of Business Innovation and Skills, British Retail Consortium, CBI, Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Chartered institute of Public Relations (CIPR), COI, Consumer Focus, DECC, Department for Transport, Forum for the Future, Institute for Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), ISBA, Office of Fair Trading, Sustainable Development Commission.

Reports from seven organisations including Network Rail, National Grid and the Highways Agency were carried out at the request of Defra under the Climate Change Act to ensure that organisations with a crucial role in running the country’s infrastructure are preparing for the threats and opportunities which climate change will pose.

Speaking ahead of a visit today to sea defences which protect the arterial South West railway line at Dawlish in Devon, Environment Minister Lord Henley said:

“It is crucial that major organisations with key roles in keeping the country running are alive to the risks that a changing climate will have on their business, because they need to start planning for how they’re going to adapt. Defra commissioned these reports so that we could understand how prepared the providers of key services are, and focus their minds on taking action.

“Business as usual is not an option, and planning now will prevent a lot of expense down the line when the projections of climate change become a reality. Businesses of all sizes need to assess how climate change could affect them.”

John Dora, Principal Engineer on Climate Change, Network Rail said:

“Britain’s railway today is resilient to adverse weather but to safeguard its future we must continue to stay prepared in managing the impact from a changing climate. At Network Rail, we are ahead of the game with a clear climate change adaptation strategy. We are currently working with RSSB in pioneering an impact analysis study and a modelling tool to understand the impact of climate change on the railway.  This also means that we are able to start early dialogues and debates with key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency and the Department for Transport, to influence changes that are vital to protect our railway.” 

In total 91 organisations will be asked to submit reports to Defra over the next year. Risks identified in the reports and measures planned to address them include:

• Potential for increased flooding of rail tracks, stations and depots; tracks buckling in high temperatures, train failure in the heat and maintenance hindered by adverse weather. Network Rail are investing in coastal flood defences and better drainage at priority locations, and is planning to develop specific adaptation strategies for each rail route.
• 13 electricity substations are at risk of flooding from a “1 in a 100 year” flood. National Grid is preparing a scheme to provide additional defences at these sites.
• Roads deteriorating more quickly due to increases in average temperatures and more frequent extreme weather, resulting in the need for more repairs and more expensive and robust road designs. This can be combated by changing standards and specifications used in roads building.
• Lighthouses becoming more at risk of falling into the sea due to coastal erosion or storm surges, or unusable through rising sea levels.  More adaptation work – such as the new foundations fitted at The Needles lighthouse to protect against a possible one metre sea level rise – may be needed.
• Gas pipes could become exposed and leak through subsidence, river erosion or coastal erosion. National Grid is using drilling techniques when placing pipes under rivers to reduce the risk of erosion and old metallic pipes are being replaced with polyethylene pipes which are less brittle.
• Rising temperatures and changes to natural habitats will put pressure on wildlife, particularly marine species, which will not have time to adapt. Fish may need to be helped to migrate by building more fish passes to help them overcome man made barriers such as flood defences, and hydropower stations. Some rare lake dwelling fish may also need to be relocated from the Lake District to more suitable northerly locations.
• An increased fire risk in woodland and on moors from hotter, drier summers. Changes to agriculture could lead to loss of traditional features such as hedgerows.

Over the next 12 months Defra will be publishing the remaining reports from sectors including water utilities, rail companies, major airports, harbour authorities and economic regulators.

Notes

1. The seven reports published today (Friday 28 January) are from National Grid plc (gas and electricity), the Environment Agency, Trinity Lighthouse Authority, the Highways Agency, Network Rail and Natural England. The government has also published an overarching document outlining the emerging findings from the seven reports. The reports are available here:  http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/sectors/reporting-authorities/
2. The Climate Change Act 2008 introduced a new power for the Environment Secretary to direct companies with functions of a public nature such as water and energy utilities to prepare climate change adaptation reports on how they are assessing and acting on the risks and opportunities from a changing climate.
3. Welsh Ministers will respond to the reports separately on devolved matters where appropriate.
4. The Government provides advice, guidance and support for businesses and organizations that want to assess and address their climate risks, through the UK Climate Impacts Programme: www.ukcip.org.uk 

As UK pesticides safety standards are already amongst the highest in Europe, only minor changes are necessary to meet the new requirements, and no compelling evidence was provided in the responses to justify further extending existing regulations and voluntary controls.

Lord Henley said:

“We have to protect the public and the environment from harm, and we’ll do so by following sound scientific and other robust evidence.

“By making a small number of changes to our existing approach, we can continue to help feed a growing global population with high-quality food that’s affordable, while minimising the risks of using pesticides.”

Further consultation will take place next summer to ensure that new legislation is in place by November 2011.

The draft legislation will include:

• provisions for the Government to publish a National Action Plan that sets out how the UK will implement the EU legislation;
• some changes to the training and certification regime;
• a statutory regime for equipment testing; and
• a statutory regime restricting the sale of professional products to certified users.

Proposals for revising the current fees and charges which pay for pesticide approval testing and monitoring are also being developed to meet the new EU obligations and will be consulted on in the new year.

The Government will continue to take a risk-based approach to minimising the potential impacts of pesticides to people or the environment and further action will be taken should the current monitoring programme or other evidence demonstrate the need.

The new legislation forms part of the EU Thematic Strategy on Pesticides, which aims to bring all member states up to comparable high standards, like those in the UK, to create a level playing field across Europe.

Notes

1. The responses to the consultation on the new EU legislation can be found at: archive.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/pesticides/index.htm.

2.  The consultation asked for views on two separate pieces of legislation; the Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides and some aspects of a Regulation on the Marketing of Plant Protection Products.  Further information can be found at: www.pesticides.gov.uk/approvals.asp?id=2308.

3.  The consultation was carried out by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Scottish Executive, and the Northern Ireland Assembly.