Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) 2004
These regulations contain many of the principles of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000. However they contain specific rights
giving individuals access to a wide range of information affecting
the environment. If your request for information relates to
environmental issues then your request will be handled under the
Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs) and there are
further details about EIRs on the
Information Commissioner's website.
The definition of environmental information is very broad and
includes information on:
- the state of elements of the environment (such as air, water,
soil, and, landscape and natural sites, flora and fauna, including
cattle, crops, wildlife and biological diversity) and interaction
between them
- the state of human health and safety, conditions of human life,
the food chain cultural sites and built structures in as much as
they are or may be affected by the state of the elements of the
environment and interaction between them
- substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste affecting or
likely to affect the state of the elements of the environment and
interaction between them
- measures (including administrative measures, policies,
legislation, plans, programmes and environmental agreements) and
activities affecting or likely to affect, or intended to protect
the state of elements of the environment and the interaction
between them
- emissions discharges and other releases into the
environment
- cost benefit and other economic analysis used in environmental
decision making
Frequently Asked Questions