Regulator profile
SEPA
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Enforcement Regulator5 areas of regulation · 39 laws enforced · Scotland
What SEPA does
Scotland's principal environmental regulator. Protects and improves Scotland's environment. Issues environmental permits for waste, emissions, water abstraction, and radioactive substances. Enforces environmental law and responds to pollution incidents.
Additional information
Scottish equivalent of Environment Agency. Also regulates COMAH sites in Scotland (jointly with HSE).
Contact SEPA
Types of regulation
Emissions
Environmental
Permits
Waste
Water
Legal framework
Legislation that SEPA directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Control of Pollution Act 1974 Act 1974
- Water (Scotland) Act 1980 Act 1980
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 Act 1990
- Radioactive Substances Act 1993 Act 1993
- WEAAISA 2001 Act 2001
- WEWSSA 2003 Act 2003
- Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 Act 2009
- Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 Act 2009
- Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011 Act 2011
Secondary legislation
- Special Waste Regulations 1996 (Scotland) UK Statutory Instrument 1996
- Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2000 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2000
- The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2000
- The Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2004
- The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications and Amendments) (No. 2) Order 2005 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2005
- The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2005 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2005
- Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
- Radioactive Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2007 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2007
- Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
- The Environmental Liability (Scotland) Regulations 2009 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2009
- ... and 20 more statutory instruments
Related legislation
Legislation connected to SEPA's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Establishing / enabling
-
Environment Act 1995
UK Act of Parliament 1995 -
Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014
UK Act of Parliament 2014
Referenced in enforcement
-
Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006
Scottish Statutory Instrument 2006 -
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
UK Act of Parliament 2006 -
The Human Organ and Tissue Live Transplants (Scotland) Regulations 2006
Scottish Statutory Instrument 2006
Sectors regulated
Environment
Manufacturing
Coverage area
Scotland