The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has made a Statutory Rule entitled the “Air Quality (Amendment, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018” (SR 2018 No. 215).

The Statutory Rule comes into operation on 17th January 2019.

The Statutory Rule makes technical updates to various pieces of Northern Ireland environmental legislation.

The Statutory Rule is associated with preparation for EU exit and does not introduce any policy change.

In preparation for EU exit, amendments are required for existing Northern Ireland legislation, in any cases where the legislation cites expired European directives or regulations.

Regulation 2 updates the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 by adding new references for the repealed Council Directive 96/61/EC.

Regulation 3 makes amendments to the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, by inserting an updated reference to Directive 2008/98/EC.

Regulation 4 implements provisions of the European Union Directive on Cleaner Air for Europe. This sets out differing treatment and actions on exceedances of air quality limits when these are due to natural factors, or to winter-sanding or salting of roads.

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at https://tsoshop.co.uk/, or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070, or viewed online at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2018/215/made