(This note is not part of the Regulations)
Part 4 of the Environment Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”) requires local authorities in Scotland to review air quality within their areas. Such reviews must be accompanied by an assessment of whether air quality objectives are being achieved or are likely to be achieved within the relevant period.
These Regulations amend the Air Quality (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (“the 2000 Regulations”), which prescribe the relevant period for the purpose of Part 4 of the 1995 Act and set the air quality objectives to be achieved.
Regulation 2(4) amends the table in the Schedule to the 2000 Regulations (the air quality objective table) by setting an air quality objective for the substance PM2.5. Regulation 2(5) introduces a definition of PM2.5 into the 2000 Regulations.
Regulation 2(2) and (3) amends regulation 3 of the 2000 Regulations so as to prescribe the relevant period for the purposes of Part 4 of the 1995 Act in relation to the new air quality objective.