Agriculture & Farming

Forestry operations, consents and timber rules

Most tree felling needs a felling licence, and large planting, deforestation or forest road schemes may need EIA consent before work starts. Work on a tree with a Tree Preservation Order needs council consent, and destroying one carries an unlimited fine.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Meet bovine TB testing requirements for cattle

Test your herd for bovine TB as often as your risk area requires: every 6 months in England's High Risk Area, every 4 years in the Low Risk Area. Overdue tests stop you moving cattle, and breaking the testing or reactor rules can cut your compensation by up to 95%.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Commercial fishing licence and compliance

Fishing commercially in UK waters needs a vessel licence from the Marine Management Organisation in England or its equivalent elsewhere. No new licences are issued, so you must transfer an existing entitlement that matches your vessel; under-12m vessels in England also need I-VMS tracking.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get authorised as a fish or shellfish farm in Scotland

Before you farm fish or shellfish in Scotland, you must be authorised as an aquaculture production business by the Fish Health Inspectorate. Once you are running, you must report suspected disease and escapes at once, move only healthy stock and keep farm records.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Identify pigs before you move them

Before any pig leaves your holding in England, you must mark it with your herd mark using an ear tag, an ear tattoo or slap marks on both shoulders. Pigs going for breeding, to shows or abroad also need a unique number.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Tag farmed deer before you move them

If you keep deer behind deer-proof fencing in England, each animal must carry an ear tag or tattoo with your herd mark before it leaves your holding or is tested for TB, and you must report its movements.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Understanding the Water Framework Directive for businesses

If your business abstracts water, discharges to rivers or groundwater, or works in or near a watercourse, the Water Framework Directive shapes your permits. Regulators must refuse or condition any permit that would let a water body fall a status class, and each part of the UK applies it through its own regulations.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Open, Specific and Certified drone categories explained

Lower-risk drone flights in the Open category need no CAA permission, but any job that breaks its weight, height or line-of-sight limits needs an Operational Authorisation first. Crop spraying by drone has no commercial authorisation in the UK and is allowed only under HSE trial permits.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Check UK drone class mark, Remote ID and registration dates

Check which UK drone rules have applied since 1 January 2026 and which change on 1 January 2028. By then EU C-class drones stop counting as UK classes, more drones need Remote ID, and the General VLOS Certificate is no longer issued. Operator ID and Flyer ID rules stay the same.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Biocides and Pesticides Authorisation

Get HSE CRD authorisation for biocidal and pesticidal products.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Comply with work equipment safety regulations (PUWER)

Every employer whose staff use work equipment, from a hand drill to a production line, must make sure it is suitable, maintained, inspected and fitted with guards, controls and warnings where needed. Only people with adequate training and information may use it.

Applies if you give your workers machinery, plant, vehicles or tools to use at work

Use mobile work equipment safely

If you use forklift trucks, dumpers, tractors or other mobile machines at work, fit roll-over protection and seatbelts where they could overturn, carry passengers only on equipment designed for them, and organise traffic routes to keep vehicles and pedestrians apart.

Applies to some businesses in this sector – open the guide to check

Get authorisation for a water activity in Scotland (EASR)

In Scotland, any activity affecting surface water or groundwater, such as abstraction, engineering or discharges, needs SEPA authorisation, and doing it without one is a criminal offence. SEPA decides which of four risk-based tiers your activity falls into, from general binding rules to a permit.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Ecology survey requirements for construction in Scotland

When you need ecological surveys for construction and development projects in Scotland, what types of survey are required, seasonal timing constraints, and how survey results feed into NatureScot licensing and the planning process.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Understanding nature conservation law in Scotland

Scotland's nature conservation law is devolved and in places stricter than England's: species offences can be committed recklessly, not just deliberately. NatureScot is the single regulator, Natura sites carry the strongest protection, and NPF4 requires development to contribute to biodiversity.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Remove or manage hedgerows lawfully

To remove a protected countryside hedgerow you must send a hedgerow removal notice to your local planning authority. It has 42 days to serve a retention notice on an important hedgerow. Intentionally or recklessly removing a hedgerow without following the process is an offence with an unlimited fine.

Applies if you fell, prune or carry out tree work, or if you are developing land, or changing the use of land or buildings

Apply for a species licence from NatureScot

If work in Scotland could disturb, harm or kill a protected species, or damage a breeding site or resting place, you need a NatureScot species licence first, even with planning permission. Scotland also makes reckless disturbance an offence, so check for protected species before you start.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Avoid protected species offences in Scotland

Killing, injuring, taking or disturbing a protected animal or wild bird in Scotland is a crime, whether you do it deliberately or recklessly. The worst offences carry up to 5 years in prison. A licence is the lawful route when your work cannot avoid affecting a protected species.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Get consent for work on an SSSI

If you own or occupy land in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, you must get written consent from Natural England before carrying out any operation on the site's list. Without a decision in 4 months you can treat it as refused and appeal. Working without consent risks an unlimited fine.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Manage invasive non-native species on your land

You do not have to eradicate invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam from your land in England or Wales, but you must not let them spread into the wild. Moving contaminated soil or plant material off site can be a criminal offence.

Applies if you dig, move or dump soil, or clear vegetation, where invasive plants may be present, or if you are developing land, or changing the use of land or buildings

Wildlife management and muirburn licensing in Scotland

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 bans glue traps, replaces snares with regulated cable restraints and will require a NatureScot licence for muirburn, with its provisions commenced in stages. Since 22 July 2024, shooting red grouse has required a licence covering the land.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Understand how wildlife law affects your business

Wildlife law protects birds, bats, newts, badgers and other species whether or not you know they are on your site. In England and Wales the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Habitats Regulations 2017 and the Badgers Act 1992 make harming them an offence, so survey before work on land, buildings or trees.

Applies if you are developing land, or changing the use of land or buildings, or if you commission or pay for construction work on your own account

Get a water discharge permit

If your business discharges effluent, waste water or contaminated run-off into rivers, the sea or the ground, you need an environmental permit; discharging without one can mean up to 5 years in prison and an unlimited fine. Discharges to a public sewer need trade effluent consent from your water company instead.

Applies if you release liquid effluent or waste water into a river, the sea or the ground

Trade effluent consent for discharging to sewers

If your business discharges liquid waste other than domestic sewage into a public sewer, you need trade effluent consent from your sewerage company. Discharging without it is a criminal offence under the Water Industry Act 1991, with an unlimited fine.

Applies if you put process liquids, washwater or other non-household effluent down the drain into the public sewer

Apply for a water abstraction licence

If you take more than 20 cubic metres of water a day from a river, stream, borehole or other natural source, you need an abstraction licence; abstracting without one is a criminal offence. Start early with a pre-application enquiry, because the regulator must check your abstraction won't harm the water body.

Applies if you take water from a river, borehole, spring or well rather than the mains

Spray crops with drones

No pesticide has a commercial authorisation for drone application in the UK, so you can spray by drone only under an HSE Extrapolated Trials Permit. Even then you need CAA permission to fly, an aerial application certificate, qualified operators, a tested sprayer and an HSE Aerial Spraying Permit for each job.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Sell eggs, honey and produce from home or the farm gate

Usually yes, if you register your birds with APHA. You can sell ungraded eggs from your gate or door to door, and honey with a label showing at least its name, origin and net weight.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Drone spraying job checklist

Check before each drone spraying job that your permissions, people, aircraft, insurance and spray area meet the rules. There are no commercial authorisations for applying pesticides by drone in the UK, so drone application is possible only under an Extrapolated Trials Permit.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get authorised to run a fish or shellfish farm

Before you set up a fish, mollusc or crustacean farm, you must be authorised by the Fish Health Inspectorate. A farm at sea also needs a marine licence and a seabed lease, live shellfish can only come from classified production areas, and a farm on land may need water abstraction and discharge permits.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Understand farm rules after cross-compliance ended

The rules cross-compliance checked still apply to every farm in England, whether or not you claim a payment. The Environment Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Natural England, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and councils enforce them, usually with advice first and notices or prosecution if that fails.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Report a suspected notifiable animal disease

If you suspect a notifiable disease such as foot and mouth, bird flu or swine fever in your animals, you must report it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency straight away, even if the signs are mild. Not reporting is an offence, and a vet will tell you which restrictions to follow.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Identify and tag sheep and goats

Every sheep and goat in England must carry approved ear tags before its tagging deadline or before it leaves your holding: within 6 months of birth for indoor-reared sheep and 9 months for outdoor-reared. Breeding sheep need two tags, one electronic; get a flock or herd mark first.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Meet your sea fishing vessel duties

Every British vessel that fishes commercially in UK waters needs a fishing vessel licence, must be registered, and must meet MCA safety standards. Anyone buying or selling fish on first sale must also register with the MMO and submit sales notes.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get a licence to fish fresh water commercially

To catch fish in rivers, lakes or canals with nets, traps or other instruments, you need written permission from the environment regulator for the instruments, site and dates. Eel fishing needs its own authorisation, and since 1 January 2026 permission to fish for elvers has been given only for approved purposes.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Meet cross compliance for Scottish farm support

If you claim Scottish Government farm support, you must meet the cross compliance rules on all your land for the whole year. A breach of the animal, nitrate or land management rules can reduce or stop your payments, even if the breach is not prosecuted.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Protect your livestock from disease with biosecurity

Good biosecurity stops disease reaching your farm and spreading around it. Limit how often people, vehicles and equipment come near your animals, clean and disinfect anything that does, keep new stock apart and check your animals every day so you spot problems early.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Navigate farm assurance schemes

Farm assurance schemes such as Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured, Soil Association Organic and LEAF Marque are voluntary and privately run, but major retailers increasingly require certification before they will buy. Each adds standards and audits on top of the legal baseline for welfare, medicines, water and food safety.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Follow farm animal welfare rules in Scotland

If you keep cattle, pigs or poultry in Scotland, the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2010 set minimum standards for inspection, housing, space, feed, water and records. Some rules apply to every farmed animal and others to each species.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Follow the nitrate vulnerable zone rules in Scotland

If any part of your farm in Scotland lies in a nitrate vulnerable zone, the action programme rules apply to the whole farm. You must plan fertiliser and manure use each year, stay within nitrogen limits, respect closed periods and keep records for inspection.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get pesticide certificates and have your sprayer tested

Everyone who applies a professional pesticide must hold a certificate of competence for the equipment they use, and anyone who buys one must make sure it goes to a certificate holder. Most spray equipment must be inspected within five years of purchase, then every three or six years.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get seed certified before you market it

If your business markets, packs or processes the seed of the main agricultural crops or vegetables, you need a licence from APHA, and the seed must be certified before you market it. Only varieties on the Great Britain or Northern Ireland variety lists can be certified.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Register a vineyard and get approval to make wine for sale

If you plant vines on 0.1 hectare or more, or grow them commercially, you must register the vineyard with the Food Standards Agency within six months of planting. Before you make wine for sale, you need an alcoholic products producer approval from HMRC.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Register to buy or sell first-sale fish in Scotland

If you buy fish straight from a fishing boat in Scotland, or sell it at auction, you must be registered with the Scottish Ministers first. You then send a sales note for each purchase or sale and keep records that a sea-fishery officer can inspect.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Tag, register and report cattle movements in Scotland

If you keep cattle in Scotland, you must tag every calf, register its birth with ScotEID to get a passport, keep a holding register and report every movement on or off your holding. Late or missing records can stop animals moving and cut your farm support.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Fish for salmon in Scotland as a business

What a business that fishes for salmon, sells fishing or guides anglers in Scotland must have and do. Scotland has no national salmon licence. The law turns on holding the fishing right or having the proprietor's written permission, then using a permitted method and keeping to the close times and the conservation rules for your river.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Set up equestrian or livery services on your farm

Keeping horses at livery needs no licence, but hiring out horses for riding or instruction needs one from your council. Planning permission is often needed for stables, arenas and conversions. VAT depends on the package: stabling you let exclusively is exempt unless you opt to tax, and lessons and horse hire are standard-rated.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Feed, animal transport and animal by-products in Scotland

What a Scottish feed merchant, livestock haulier, dealer, abattoir supplier or farm must do to register as a feed business with Food Standards Scotland, get a transporter authorisation for animal journeys, and collect and dispose of animal by-products and fallen stock. Scotland has its own regulations and its own enforcers for each.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Welfare at the time of killing in Wales and Northern Ireland

What a slaughterhouse or other business that kills animals must do in Wales and in Northern Ireland. Each nation has its own 2014 Regulations enforcing Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009, its own competent authority, its own certificate rules and its own CCTV Regulations, with different dates.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Manage public access on your open access land

If your land is mapped as open access land, people can walk on it without asking, but cultivated fields, buildings and land near homes are excepted. You owe walkers less duty over natural features, can close land for up to 28 days a year, and must not put up misleading signs.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Managing land within an SSSI in Scotland

If you own or manage land within a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Scotland, you must get NatureScot's written consent before carrying out any operation on the site's Operations Requiring Consent list. Working without consent is a criminal offence, and if NatureScot does not decide within 4 months, consent is treated as refused.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Licences for dog boarding, day care and other pet care work

Usually yes in England if you board dogs or cats or run dog day care: you need an animal activity licence from your council. Grooming and dog walking are outside the licensing scheme unless the service amounts to dog day care, but local licences, permits and dog limits can apply.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Plant passports for selling plants and seeds online

Usually yes, if you sell plants or listed seeds as a business online, by phone or by post, even to a home gardener. Selling in person to the public needs no passport.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.