(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make amendments to the INSPIRE Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3157), which implement Directive 2007/2/EC (OJ No L 108, 25.4.2007, p.1) (“the Directive”) which concerns the creation and operation of national and European Union infrastructures relating to spatial information for the purposes of EU environmental policies and other policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment.
Certain provisions of the Directive regarding conformity of spatial data sets and services with interoperability requirements were not previously transposed as the implementing rules setting out those requirements had not been made. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 (OJ No L 323, 8.12.2010, p.11) sets out those requirements in respect of spatial data sets which correspond to the themes listed in Annex I to the Directive (and spatial data services relating to such data sets), and these Regulations amend the INSPIRE Regulations accordingly (regulations 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10).
Regulation 8 makes amendments to modifications of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c.36) consequential on the abolition of the Information Tribunal.
Regulation 11 makes an amendment requiring the Secretary of State to review the operation and effect of the INSPIRE Regulations and publish a report within five years after 1st August 2012 and within every five years after that.
The transposition note previously prepared in connection with the Directive has been updated, and is available at http://data.gov.uk/location/inspire/ or from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AL.
A separate impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as the impact assessment prepared for the INSPIRE Regulations 2009 included the full cost of implementation, including costs arising from the interoperability requirements. That impact assessment is available, together with the Explanatory Memorandum, alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.