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Northern Ireland Statutory Rule
2013
Northern Ireland
Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Emissions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
37 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides across 2 topics · 3 journeys
Penalty landscape
1 of 37 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 35 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Operator 17
- Any Person 4
- Applicant 1
Plus 15 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Applicants also bound by 294 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 46 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 30 duties
- The Land Registration Rules 2003 2003 25 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 18 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 14 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1
Application to the Crown
- Crown employees must comply with industrial emission regulations Any Person
Discharge and scope of functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Chief Inspector must monitor Best Available Techniques (BAT) developments Statutory regulator
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 2 — PERMITS
Permits: requirement for a permit
5 years imprisonment- Obtain an environmental permit before operating regulated industrial plant Any Person
Conditions of permits: general principles
- Operate industrial installations to prevent and limit pollution Operator
Conditions of permits: specific conditions for all installations and mobile plant
- Use best available techniques to prevent or reduce emissions from your installation Operator
Conditions of permits: specific conditions for Part A installations and Part A mobile plant
- Comply with environmental permit conditions and reporting requirements Operator
Conditions of permits: Materials facilities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must include Materials Facilities Code compliance in waste permits Statutory regulator
Conditions of permits: specific conditions for Part B and C installations and mobile plant
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must set permit conditions to minimize air emissions Statutory regulator
General binding rules
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency must issue and update general binding rules Crown / Minister / Government department
Review of conditions of permits
- Submit permit review information when requested by the chief inspector Operator
Proposed change in the operation of an installation or mobile plant
- Notify NIEA before changing your permitted operation Operator
Transfer of permits
- Apply jointly to transfer an industrial permit Operator
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Permits: general provisions
Conditions of permits: Department’s notice in relation to emissions into water
Variation of conditions of permits
Death of a permit holder
Surrender of a permit for a Part A installation or Part A mobile plant
Surrender of a permit for a Part B or Part C installation or Part B or Part C mobile plant
Revocation of permits
Fees and charges in relation to permits
Part 3
Duty of the enforcing authority to undertake inspections and to ensure compliance with conditions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must inspect industrial sites and report findings Statutory regulator
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5
Public registers of information
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authorities must maintain and provide access to public registers Statutory regulator
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 6
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 7
Guidance to enforcing authorities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must follow government guidance when enforcing industrial emissions rules Statutory regulator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 8
Disclosure of information
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators and Department may share information for industrial emissions duties Statutory regulator
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Revocations
Schedules
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES
- Use Best Available Techniques (BAT) to prevent or reduce industrial pollution Any Person
(1) The enforcing authority may accept a permit issued under...
- Notify regulator of incidents and permit breaches immediately Operator
The enforcing authority must ensure that the permit is fully...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must ensure permits are fully compliant after 20 June 2013 Statutory regulator
(1) The Department may give directions to the enforcing authority...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Department must provide hearing and notice when permit application is referred Crown / Minister / Government department
An application for a permit to operate a waste incineration...
- Include waste incineration compliance measures in permit application Operator
(1) An application for a permit to operate an installation...
- Include solvent emission control measures in your permit application Applicant
An application under regulation 19(2) for the variation of the...
- Submit a complete application to vary your environmental permit conditions Operator
The chief inspector shall notify the operator of a Part...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Chief inspector must notify operators needing a baseline report Statutory regulator
(1) Subject to paragraph 24(b), an operator notified under paragraph...
- Advertise proposed variation notice in local newspaper within 28 days Operator
(1) Subject to paragraph 24(b), an operator notified under paragraph...
- Advertise permit variation application in local press and Belfast Gazette Operator
(1) The Department may give directions to the enforcing authority...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must refer certain permit variation applications to the Department for determination Statutory regulator
Applications for the grant of a permit
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must process permit applications within one month Statutory regulator
Exercise of relevant function
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must enforce MCPD emission limits and ban persistent dark smoke Statutory regulator
Emission limit values
- Keep air emissions from medium combustion plants below legal limits Operator
WASTE INCINERATION
- Do not incinerate waste collected for recycling or re-use Operator
Exercise of relevant functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NIEA must ensure waste incineration permits meet IED standards and energy efficiency conditions Statutory regulator
Waste separately collected for preparing for re-use and recycling not to be incinerated
- Do not incinerate separately collected recyclable waste Operator
An operator of an installation with a total net thermal...
- Apply for permit variation before substantial refurbishment Operator
An operator of an installation, carrying out an activity with...
- Apply for permit variation before substantial refurbishment Operator
An operator of an installation with a total net thermal...
- Apply to vary your permit before substantial refurbishment of a large heat-generating installation Operator
APPEALS FROM DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERMITS
- Submit written notice and grounds of appeal against permit decisions Any Person
Browse 185 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
ACTIVITIES, INSTALLATIONS AND MOBILE PLANT
PRESCRIBED DATE AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
GRANT OF PERMITS
POLLUTANTS
LARGE COMBUSTION PLANTS
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
PETROL VAPOUR RECOVERY
REVOCATIONS
References to, or to the release into water of, a...
(1) References to a substance listed in this paragraph are...
For the purpose of these Regulations— “Part A installation” means...
For the purpose of these Regulations— “Part A mobile plant”...
A Part B installation where an activity falling within paragraph...
A Part B installation where an activity falling within paragraph...
(1) A Part B or Part C installation where an...
Where an installation is a Part A installation, a Part...
Where an installation is authorised by a permit granted under...
In this Part, “Part A activity”, “Part B activity” and...
An activity shall not be taken to be an activity...
An activity listed in section 7 of Part 1 shall...
References in Part 1 to related activities are references to...
(1) This paragraph applies for the purpose of determining whether...
(1) Where an activity falls within a description in Part...
In Part 1— “background quantity” means, in relation to the...
References to, or to the release into the air of,...
Subject to paragraph 2, in determining BAT, special consideration shall...
Sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) and (j) to (l) of paragraph...
Save as set out in paragraph 2(b), for a Part...
For a Part A installation or Part A mobile plant—...
For a Part A installation or Part A mobile plant...
For any Part A installation or Part A mobile plant,...
(1) Save as set out in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3),...
The Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 shall...
(1) An application to an enforcing authority for a permit...
Where an application is for a permit to operate more...
Paragraph 7 shall not apply in relation to an application...
(1) Subject to paragraphs 13 and 30 , the enforcing...
Paragraph 12 does not apply in relation to an application...
(1) If the enforcing authority proposes to grant a permit...
(1) Any representations made by any persons within the period...
In the case of an application for a permit to...
(1) Except in a case where an application has been...
(1) The enforcing authority shall— (a) within a period of...
Paragraph 1(1) applies in relation to an application for a...
(1) An advertisement required by paragraph 19 shall—
If the enforcing authority fails to give notice of its...
Where the Department is aware that the operation of an...
(1) Where an application is forwarded to a Member State...
Any representations on the draft determination made in the Member...
(1) For the purposes of Parts 1 and 2 “working...
The requirements of paragraph 7 shall not apply in so...
The requirements of paragraph 12, other than paragraph 12(f), shall...
Subject to paragraph 29, the requirements of paragraph 12(1)(b)(ii), (iii)...
Paragraph 28 shall not apply in relation to information which...
An application for a landfill permit, where an activity falling...
Where a matter falls to be determined under regulation 34...
For the purpose of paragraph 30, the matters to be...
Paragraph 1(1) applies in relation to an application for a...
The enforcing authority may, by notice in writing, require the...
Subject to paragraph 30, the applicant shall, within the period...
Any advertisement required by paragraph 7 shall—
In the case of an application for a permit to...
Arsenic and its compounds.
Materials in suspension.
Cyanides.
Substances which contribute to eutrophication (in particular, nitrates and phosphates)....
Substances and mixtures which have been proved to possess carcinogenic...
Substances which have an unfavourable influence on the oxygen balance...
Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans.
Substances listed in Annex X to Directive 2000/60/EC.
AIR
WATER
Oxides of nitrogen and other nitrogen compounds.
Organophosphorus compounds.
Carbon monoxide.
Organotin compounds.
Volatile organic compounds.
Substances and mixtures which have been proved to possess carcinogenic...
Metals and their compounds.
Persistent hydrocarbons and persistent and bioaccumulable organic toxic substances.
Dust including fine particulate matter.
Cyanides.
Asbestos (suspended particulates, fibres).
Metals and their compounds.
Chlorine and its compounds.
Arsenic and its compounds.
Fluorine and its compounds.
Biocides and plant protection products.
COMPENSATION IN RELATION TO OFF-SITE CONDITIONS
(1) This Schedule applies in any case where—
In a case where this Schedule applies, any person who...
Subject to paragraph 6(3) and (5)(b), compensation shall be payable...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), an entitlement to compensation under...
(1) An application for compensation under this Schedule shall be...
(1) The amount to be paid by way of compensation...
(1) Compensation payable under this Schedule in respect of an...
(1) Compensation payable under this Schedule shall carry interest at...
VARIATION OF CONDITIONS
(1) An advertisement required by paragraph 9 shall—
If the enforcing authority fails to give notice of its...
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this paragraph applies where the...
(1) If the enforcing authority proposes to serve a variation...
(1) In the case of a proposed variation notice affecting...
Where the Department is aware that an application or a...
Where an application or proposal to serve a variation notice...
In determining an application or before serving a variation notice...
If a proposed change in the operation of a Part...
Any representations on the draft determination made in the Member...
(1) For the purposes of this Schedule “working day” means...
The requirements of paragraph 6(1) and 14(1) shall not apply...
Paragraphs 27, 28 and 29 of Schedule 4 shall apply...
Where a matter falls to be determined under regulation 34...
Paragraph 31 of Schedule 4 shall apply for the purpose...
An application under regulation 19(2) for the variation of the...
The enforcing authority may, by notice in writing to the...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), this paragraph shall apply where...
(1) Except in a case where an application under regulation...
(1) The enforcing authority shall give notice of their draft...
SED INSTALLATIONS
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
This Schedule applies, from 1st January 2016, in relation to...
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Medium Combustion Plant
Application
Plant at gas compressor stations
Temporary derogations
Interpretation
Interpretation of this Part
Limited operating hours – existing medium combustion plants
Limited operating hours – new medium combustion plants
Small and micro isolated systems
Specified generators
Application
Interpretation – specified generators
Interpretation – relevant dates and permitting dates
Interpretation - general
Permit conditions: general
Exceptions to permit conditions
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of functions
Application
Interpretation
ASBESTOS
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of chief inspector’s functions
ENERGY EFFICIENCY DIRECTIVE
Application
The application for a variation in the conditions of the...
Paragraphs 3 to 11 shall not apply to—
Where the exemption specified in paragraph 12(1) applies, the enforcing...
Paragraphs 6 to 11 shall not apply to individual installations:...
For the purposes of paragraph 14, “connection distance” means—
From 31st December 2015, when considering permit applications and applications...
Subject to paragraph 19, where a cost-benefit analysis, required pursuant...
Subject to paragraph 19, where a cost-benefit analysis required pursuant...
Paragraphs 17 and 18 do not apply if, in individual...
Interpretation
The provisions of this Schedule apply to installations covered by...
Cost-benefit analysis
The application for a variation of the conditions of the...
An application to an enforcing authority under regulation 10 for...
The application for a variation of the conditions of the...
An application to an enforcing authority under regulation 10 for...
SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO POWERS OF ENTRY
In this Schedule— “relevant power” means a power conferred by...
(1) If it is shown to the satisfaction of a...
(1) Subject to regulation 30(10), information obtained in consequence of...
An inspector who, in the exercise of a relevant power,...
(1) Where an inspector exercises any power conferred by regulation...
(1) A person who wishes to appeal to the Planning...
Notice of appeal in accordance with paragraph 1 is to...
The enforcing authority shall, within 14 days of receipt of...
(1) The Planning Appeals Commission shall determine the appeal and...
REGISTERS
(1) A register maintained by an enforcing authority under regulation...
Where an application is withdrawn by the applicant at any...
Where, following an amendment of Schedule 1, these Regulations cease...
Nothing in paragraph 1 requires an enforcing authority to keep...
Any details of a formal caution included in a register...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- NIEA environmental incident hotline (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- NetRegs - Free environmental guidance for NI and Scotland (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- DAERA - Protect the environment (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- NIEA - Northern Ireland Environment Agency (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Check if you need an environmental permit (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Northern Ireland waste legislation (NetRegs) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- NIEA IPPC guidance and application forms (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Northern Ireland's environmental regulator. Part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Issues environmental permits, regulates waste and emissions, …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.