Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026

3 Welsh Ministers’ duties when making policy

(1) The Welsh Ministers must, for the purpose of contributing to the environmental objective—

(a) have special regard to the environmental principles when making policy in relation to Wale‍s, and

(b) integrate environmental protection into the making of such policy.

(2) In complying with the duty in subsection (1), the Welsh Ministers must have regard to the environmental principles and integrating environmental protection statement or revised statement published under section‍ 7.

(3) In this section—

(a) “policy” includes proposals for legislation, but does not include an administrative decision in relation to a particular person or case;

(b) “making policy” includes developing, adopting or revising policies;

(c) “Wales” includes, so far as policy relates to fishing, fisheries or fish health, the area of the Welsh zone beyond the seaward limit of the territorial sea.

(4) The duty in subsection (1) does not apply where the policy in question would have no effect or a negligible effect on the environment.