Legislation & Regulation

Reminder on water abstraction licences

If your current water abstraction licence is due to expire, and you want to continue to abstract, you need to apply for a new licence at least 3 months before the existing licence expires.  For more information on applying for a water abstraction licence, please visit this website.

Consultation on sludge spreading regime

Clear and effective regulation is essential to ensure sludge spreading benefits agriculture while protecting human health and the environment. Defra is seeking views on proposals to improve the current sludge regime and maintain confidence in spreading practices.  The consultation sets out three options for updating the rules on the use of sludge on agricultural land and invites feedback on how these could work in practice.  Visit this page to take part in the consultation, which closes on 24 March.  

Animal welfare strategy to improve lives of farmed animals

The Animal Welfare strategy (for England) sets out what only the government can do, such as establishing a regulatory framework and providing a clear direction of travel. It also establishes the need to work in partnership with industry and others to collectively improve animal welfare, underpinned by effective enforcement.   For farm animals, the strategy includes plans to move away from confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens and pig farrowing crates, address welfare concerns around stunning pigs with carbon dioxide and promote the use of slow-growing meat chicken breeds that support improved welfare outcomes.  Defra will work closely with charities, farmers, vets, and industry to ensure these reforms are practical and deliverable, and that farmers are given enough time to adapt.  Read more on this Defra blog post.

Changes in requirements for purchasers and users of rodenticides

From January 2026, all users of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) products will need to hold an up-to-date training certificate. These measures have been taken to strengthen stewardship. Buyers will need the following proof of competence to purchase and professionally use rodenticides in the UK:

• proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course within the past 5 years or;
• proof of certification to a CRRU UK approved training course more than 5 years ago and current membership of a CRRU UK approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.

If you’d like to book a course, here is a list of approved CRRU Training & Certification courses

Rules for farmers post cross compliance from 2024 onwards

2023 was the final year of Cross Compliance.   From 1 January 2024 Cross Compliance ended as a sanction mechanism and will not apply to delinked payments.  However, most cross compliance standards will continue to apply to farm activities as they are enshrined in other English laws.  Defra has established a Farm Regulation Hub which lists all of the legal requirements for farmers and land managers.  You can access the Hub on this page.

Read the rules and regulations for farmers and land managers all on one page

Following feedback, Defra has established a new page on its website which lists all of the rules and regulations for farmers and land managers in one place.  The rules are also arranged in a more intuitive way, by the activities that you undertake.  Defra is keen for further feedback on the new page, so please try and send them your thoughts.  Access the new page here.