As you know, to avoid an abrupt transition post-Brexit and provide certainty for people and businesses, some EU legislation remained on the statute book.
The intention of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is to make it easier to preserve, repeal or amend legislation that was never intended to sit on our statute book indefinitely. This is an enabling bill that will make it possible to tailor legislation to the particular needs of the British economy. In addition, the Bill includes a targeted and limited extension power to 2026, as the Prime Minister has indicated.
As regards environmental standards, the UK is proud to be a world leader in environmental protections. This Government has clear environmental and climate goals, such as those set out in the Environment Act 2021, the 25-Year Environment Plan and the Net Zero Strategy respectively. We are committed to delivering our legally binding target to halt nature’s decline by 2030.
Specifically on either Amendment 48 or Clause 16 of the REUL Bill, these proposals would be counterproductive as they would create significant additional bureaucracy and delay. Further, Clause 16(2) is unclear, as it does not specify that it applies only to REUL relating to environment or food safety, composition or labelling and could therefore be held to apply more broadly.
Under the Environment Act 2021, the Government has already set legally binding targets, including a target to halt the decline of nature by 2030. In addition, the Government is enshrining stringent targets to reduce storm overflows into law. Further, in January, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published its Environmental Improvement Plan, setting out how it would deliver on these targets and duties.
The Government has also supported action on the global stage, including at COP15, where the Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed. This includes 23 global targets, including to protect 30 per cent of global land and ocean by 2030.
Preserving, repealing or amending retained EU law will help reform the UK regulatory system and will allow for a tailored regulatory framework that puts consumers first and gives businesses the confidence to innovate and invest in Britain.