New Solid Fuel Regulations came into effect on 31 October

Government has created a FAQ page for retailers on how the new regulations will affect your business

Print

Print

News

The new Solid Fuel Regulations for Ireland came into effect on 31 October 2022.

Under the new regulations, retailers should deal only with registered producers of solid fuels. All producers must register with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must include their registration number on any invoice, credit note, dispatch and delivery docket, marketing material or website or at any premises relating to any fuel activity carried out by the producer.

A FAQ page for retailers on how the new regulations will affect you is available here.

Signed by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, the primary focus of the regulations is on improving air quality and improving people’s health chances and outcomes, by restricting the retail, online and commercial sale of smoky fuels, including smoky coal, turf and wet wood. The goverment states these fuels are proven to be a major contributor to air pollution in Ireland.

The main health effects of air pollution include stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. These conditions can lead to sickness and ill health, as well as premature mortality. Burning of solid fuels, is a significant contributor to poor local air quality by increasing the amount of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and other pollutants in our homes and communities. It is also linked to increases in respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, dementia and also impacts on the central nervous and reproductive systems.

The changes, which were announced in September 2021, will remove the most polluting fuels from the market from 31 October. This will be achieved by increasing the technical standards for fuels to ensure only lower smoke products are available for sale.

These regulations have been developed following intense work over a number of years, which included a public consultation that attracted more than 3,500 responses, and significant levels of engagement with stakeholders. They represent a proportionate response to the health impacts associated with burning the most polluting solid fuels.

Related Articles

Young talent take to the field at the Aviva Stadium →

On your team →

Dunnes stores secures approval for Crumlin development →

Get the scoop →