Strategic Issues

Strategic Issues: Third Consultation Paper on the Implementation of the IPPC Directive. (The Government intends to make regulations to implement the IPPC Directive in Great Britain in July 1999. To be adopted under the Pollution Prevention and Control Bill, the regulations will have a considerable impact on both IPC and non-IPC processes and installations, in particular, by repealing Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and substituting a single IPPC regime. While controversy surrounds the extent of delegated powers proposed by the Bill, this is likely to slow rather than to suspend or halt implementation). The Operation of the Landfill Tax. (The landfill tax seems to be developing into an environmental and financial success, although evidence remains uncertain. A further increase of the tax can be anticipated, with more substantial reform to await the draft national waste strategy later this year). EC Regulation of Genetic Modification in Agriculture. (A House of Lords Select Committee broadly welcomes the European Commission proposal for revised legislation aimed at stricter and more transparent control of the release of genetically modified organisms. The main criticism concerns the lack of sensitivity shown to industry's demand for an end-point at which a regulated product is considered to be safe). Report on the Review of the National Air Quality Strategy. (The DETR has published results of a review of the UK Strategy, upon which it will base revisions to the Strategy expected at the end of the year).