Open consultation Consultation on the Draft Air Quality (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Summary

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a public consultation on the Draft Air Quality (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 to tighten annual average particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) limits, targets and objectives in Northern Ireland. The primary method for responses is online via Citizen Space.

Documents

• Consultation on the Draft Air Quality (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 Adobe PDF (1 MB)
• Equality and Disability Impact Screening Adobe PDF (734 KB)
• Rural Needs Impact Assessment Adobe PDF (471 KB)

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Consultation description

The consultation seeks views on the proposed Statutory Rule, which will bring into operation the following annual average limits, targets and objectives across Northern Ireland with compliance intended to be achieved by 1 January 2028 and will align with interim target 4 of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guideline (AQG) levels:

• Limit values: PM2.5 – 10 µg/m³ (currently 25 µg/m³), PM10 – 20 µg/m³ (currently 40µg/m³)
• Target value: PM2.5 – 8 µg/m³ (currently 25 µg/m³)
• Objective: PM10 – 20 µg/m³ (currently 40 µg/m³)

In addition to amending these standards for PM a number of other amendments are included in the Regulations as a means to tidy up the statute book:

• The names for the competent authorities in the 2003 Regulations will be amended to reflect their current names.
• The Air Quality (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 will be revoked.
• A new Schedule has been added clarifying monitoring and assessment provisions currently contained within Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.