By: Cheryl Wong
Here are a few noteworthy global EHS regulatory changes in April 2025. We cover EHS legislation and standards for over 30 countries and 400 jurisdictions. If you would like to track legislative changes for specific regions, countries, or jurisdictions, we are happy to help. Please send us a request for more information here, and we will contact you shortly. Note that descriptions with an asterisk (*) were generated with artificial intelligence.
- Canada – Federal
- Canada – British Columbia
- Canada – Quebec
- United States – Arizona
- United States – Arkansas
- United States – Idaho
- United States – New Mexico
- United States – Utah
- United States – Virginia
- European Union
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- France
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Canada – Federal
Amended Document – Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act
Amending Document – Regulations Amending Schedule 2 to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and the Fuel Charge Regulations
First Effective Date: 15 March 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry
According to the government, the changes “provide that the applicable fuel charge rates for all types of fuel and combustible waste are set to zero after March 31, 2025.”
Amended Document – Output-Based Pricing System Regulations
Amending Document – Regulations Amending the Output-Based Pricing System Regulations
First Effective Date: 15 March 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry
According to the government, the changes “[update] the definition of on-site transportation emissions to ensure all of those emissions remain covered by carbon pollution pricing [by] removing the reference to emissions from vehicles using fuels delivered to which an exemption certificate […] applies. [They] also shorten the compliance period for voluntary facilities where designation as a covered facility is cancelled by the Minister in 2025.”
New Principal Document – Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (Storage and Loading of Volatile Petroleum Liquids) Regulations
First Effective Date: 7 March 2025
Industry Sector: Oil and Gas Industry, Utilities and Communications
This document applies to operators of facilities that store or load volatile petroleum liquids. It outlines requirements for controlling VOC emissions through proper equipment installation, maintenance, and monitoring. Operators must ensure proper training of personnel, maintain detailed records, and implement specific safety measures for tanks and loading equipment.*
Amended Document – Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016
Amending Document – Regulations Amending the Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 (Amendment 18)
First Effective Date: 9 April 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management and Maintenance
According to the government, the changes primarily “[add] or [update] energy efficiency and testing standards for several new and currently regulated energy-using products to harmonize with provincial, state or U.S. federal regulations.” They notably “[include] transitional provisions for specific products during which regulated parties have the opportunity, on a voluntary basis, to comply more quickly with the new requirements (voluntary early compliance) [and introduce] some energy efficiency standards that are more stringent than the U.S. federal standard.” Specific changes include:
- “[i]ntroducing [air compressors, faucets, line voltage thermostats, pool pumps, and showerheads] into the Regulations with associated requirements for energy efficiency standards, testing standards, verification, and provision of information”;
- “[e]xpanding the scope of [the following] currently regulated products and introduce or update energy efficiency and testing standards,” for room air conditioners, large air conditioners, single package central air conditioners, split system central air conditioners, portable air conditioners, large heat pumps, single package central heat pumps, split system central heat pumps, gas furnaces, electric water heaters, gas-fired storage water heaters, oil-fired water heaters, gas-fired instantaneous water heaters, general service lamps; and
- “[u]pdating the list of energy-using products to ensure [the government can] maintain harmonization of requirements with another jurisdiction.
Canada – British Columbia
New Principal Document – Carbon Dioxide Subsurface Storage Summary Document
First Effective Date: 10 April 2025
Industry Sector: Mining and Minerals Industry, Oil and Gas Industry, Utilities and Communications
This document applies to companies and professionals involved in carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) projects in British Columbia. It outlines requirements and guidance for CCS operations, including well drilling, injection procedures, safety protocols, monitoring systems, and reporting obligations. Companies must obtain permits, conduct regular testing, maintain equipment integrity, and submit progress reports while ensuring environmental protection and public safety.*
Amended Document – Carbon Tax Act
Amending Document – Carbon Tax Amendment Act, 2025
First Effective Date: 31 March 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management and Maintenance
The changes notably set the carbon tax rates for fuels and combustibles to zero and eliminate the Climate Action Tax Credit. They also remove certain registration requirements for natural gas vendors.
Canada – Quebec
Amended Document – Safety Code
Amending Document – Regulation to amend the Safety Code
First Effective Date: 17 April 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management and Maintenance
According to the Government, the change notably—
- “amends Chapter VIII, Building, of the Safety Code to incorporate by reference the 2020 edition of the National Fire Code of Canada, to which amendments were made to meet specific needs in Québec” and;
- “provides for the renewal of most of the amendments for Québec made to the previous edition.”
More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
Amended Document – Pesticides Management Code
Amending Document – Regulation to amend the Pesticides Management Code
First Effective Date: 24 April 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
According to the Government, the changes—
- “remove the requirement for an agronomic justification to use certain pesticides, making an agronomic prescription the sole requirement for that purpose;”
- adjust the “content of the agronomic prescription and […] the register that must be kept” and;
- modify “the applicable monetary administrative penalties and penal sanctions”.
More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
United States – Arizona
Amended Document – AAC Chapter 18-9 Department of Environmental Quality – Water Pollution Control
Amending Document – AAC Chapter 18-9 Department of Environmental Quality – Water Pollution Control 2025-04-04 Amendments
First Effective Date: 4 March 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces
The effect of the change, according to the government, is notably to establish the Advanced Water Purification regulatory program.
Amended Document – AAC Chapter 18-13 Department of Environmental Quality – Solid Waste Management
Amending Document – AAC Chapter 18-13 Department of Environmental Quality – Solid Waste Management 2025-04-25 Amendments
First Effective Date: 1 June 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces
According to the government, the effect of the change is notably to “establish an Arizona coal combustion residuals (CCR) permit program to be approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to operate in lieu of the federal CCR program. In addition, after EPA approval and permit issuance, the Arizona CCR permit program would operate in place of Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) dam safety rules for CCR surface impoundments.”
United States – Arkansas
New Principal Document – Subchapter 23-1-18-13 Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act
First Effective Date: 3 August 2025
Industry Sector: Utilities and Communications
This document applies to owners and operators of wind energy facilities in Arkansas. It establishes requirements for constructing and operating wind facilities, including obtaining permits, maintaining setback distances, conducting environmental assessments, providing emergency procedures, carrying insurance, and ensuring proper decommissioning of facilities.*
United States – Idaho
Amended Document – IS Chapter 39-1 Environmental Quality — Health
Amending Document – An Act Relating to Ore Processing by Cyanidation; Repealing Section 39-118a, Idaho Code, Relating to Ore Processing by Cyanidation; Amending Chapter 1, Title 39, Idaho Code, by the Addition of a New Section 39-118a, Idaho Code, to Establish Provisions Regarding Ore Processing by Cyanidation; Providing That Certain Administrative Rules Contained in Idapa 58.01.13 Shall Be Null, Void, and of No Force and Effect; And Declaring an Emergency.
First Effective Date: 31 March 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry
According to the government, the changes update rules concerning ore processing by cyanidation by “establish[ing] requirements to ensure that cyanidation facilities contain, control, and treat cyanidation process water, spent ore, tailings and other materialsto prevent discharges of cyanidation pollutants as to not impair the beneficial use of, or degrade, waters of the State.”
More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
United States – New Mexico
Amended Document – NMSA Article 74-4 Hazardous Waste Act
Amending Document – An Act Relating to Hazardous Materials; Amending the Definition of “Hazardous Waste”; Authorizing the Environmental Improvement Board to Adopt Rules for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances That Are Designated Hazardous Waste.
First Effective Date: 20 June 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
The change notably amends the definition of “hazardous waste” to include foam containing per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and solid waste and combinations of solid wastes that are designated as hazardous by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. It also provides that “solid wastes generated by the growing and harvesting of agricultural crops or the raising of animals, including animal manures, when those solid wastes are returned to the soils as fertilizer” are not considered hazardous waste.
United States – Utah
Amended Document – UC Chapter 73-10 Board of Water Resources – Division of Water Resources
Amending Document – Water Amendments
First Effective Date: 7 May 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry
The changes notably “[provide] circumstances of when a municipality may set different water rates based in part on water conservation,” “[address] rate setting by a retail water supplier and public water systems,” “[create] a presumption regarding the reasonableness of certain water rates that include water conservation as an element in determining the rate,” and “[address] tiered rates for secondary water.”
United States – Virginia
Amended Document – CV Chapter 62.1-3.1 State Water Control Law
Amending Document – An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 an article numbered 14, consisting of sections numbered 62.1-44.34:34 through 62.1-44.34:38, relating to hazardous substances; hazardous substance facility response plans; civil penalties.
First Effective Date: 1 July 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
The change adds rules for hazardous substance facilities concerning facility response plans, which include requirements for operators to submit plans, report hazardous substance discharges, maintain records for 5 years, and allow access to emergency services coordinators.
Amended Document – CV Chapter 62.1-3.1 State Water Control Law
Amending Document – An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 13 of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-44.34:34, relating to drinking water; Occoquan Reservoir PFAS Reduction Program established.
First Effective Date: 1 July 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
The change establishes a polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) monitoring and reduction system for the Occoquan Reservoir. It requires owners and operators of facilities that discharge industrial wastewater and stormwater into the reservoir or its tributaries to monitor for PFAS using specified methods. It also requires facilities that measure PFAS levels exceeding established maximum concentration levels (MCLs) to comply with the MCL.
European Union
Amended Document – Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
Amending Document – Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/660 of 1 April 2025 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets
First Effective Date: 22 April 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry
The changes notably address the risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by prohibiting the marketing or use of PAHs, alone or as constituents of other substances, in clay targets for shooting.
Amended Document – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1842 of 31 October 2019 laying down rules for the application of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards further arrangements for the adjustments to free allocation of emission allowances due to activity level changes
Amending Document – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/772 of 16 April 2025 amending and correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1842 laying down rules for the application of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards further arrangements for the adjustments to free allocation of emission allowances due to activity level changes
First Effective Date: 12 May 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
The changes, according to the European Commission, notably:
- introduce new definitions for “average of the expected activity level” and “process emissions sub-installation”;
- require operators that have received a free allocation to include data for the two years preceding the submission of the annual report on the activity level of each sub-installation in both 2021 and 2026;
- clarify the situations where the competent authority shall suspend the issuance of free emission allowances;
- introduce new provisions with regard to the recovery and the reduction of allowances, as well as the additional 30% allowances for district heating under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS);
- set out the climate-neutrality reporting requirements for operators who have submitted climate-neutrality plans;
- clarify that if a sub-installation ceases operation, it will not receive free allowances for the remainder of the calendar year, calculated proportionally;
- increase the minimum number of allowances required for adjustments to the free allocation of a sub-installation, from 100 to 300; and
- add specific provisions for the calculation of the expected activity level.
Croatia
New Principal Document – NN 67/2025-855 Law on Climate Change and Protection of the Ozone Layer
First Effective Date: 17 April 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management and Maintenance
This document applies to legal entities and individuals involved in activities related to greenhouse gas emissions, ozone-depleting substances, and fluorinated greenhouse gases. It outlines requirements for monitoring, reporting, and verification of emissions, as well as obligations for obtaining permits, training personnel, and complying with emission trading systems.*
It replaces NN 127/2019-2554 Law on Climate Change and Protection of the Ozone Layer. According to HRT, this change notably “contributes to the goals that Croatia is obliged to meet in accordance with directives and regulations in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by 55 percent by 2030… In addition, provisions on binding annual greenhouse gas reductions are being carried over, according to which sectors outside the emissions trading system (various industrial processes, product use, buildings, agriculture, waste management, road and off-road transport) must reduce emissions by at least 16.7 percent compared to 2005 levels.”
More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
Czech Republic
New Principal Document – No. 103/2025 Coll. Decree on the implementation of certain provisions of the Act on the conditions for trading in greenhouse gas emission allowances
First Effective Date: 16 April 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry
This document applies to businesses dealing with greenhouse gas emission allowances and fuel suppliers. It outlines requirements for permit applications related to emissions and fuel supply, including specific forms for agricultural and forestry gas consumption declarations, and processes where fuel is used without combustion.*
Denmark
Amended Document – Ionizing Radiation and Radiation Protection Act (Radiation Protection Act)
Amending Document – Act amending the Radiation Protection Act
First Effective Date: 1 April 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management and Maintenance
The changes notably:
- update certain definitions, such as redefining the term “use” to separate activities related to radioactive substances and those related to radiation generators and introducing new definitions for “emergency exposure situation” and “uncontrolled radiation source”; and
- impose new burdens and compliance requirements for those who use or handle radiation sources and radiation exposure by granting the Danish Health Authority specific powers in the context of dose assessment and monitoring, the registration of radiation sources and facilities, controls on previously used and uncontrolled radiation sources, and radiological emergency plans.
France
New Principal Document – Order of March 27, 2025 containing specifications for eco-organizations, individual systems and coordinating organizations of the extended producer responsibility sector for batteries
First Effective Date: 18 August 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management and Maintenance
This document applies to battery producers, eco-organizations, reuse/repair operators, waste management operators, local authorities, and end users. It outlines requirements for battery collection and recycling, including minimum collection rates, recycling efficiency targets, and obligations for producers to either join an approved eco-organization or establish their own collection system.*
Hungary
New Principal Document – Government decree 60/2025. (III. 31.) on the detailed rules related to the content and management of the register of those who have committed serious environmental violations
First Effective Date: 1 May 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management and Maintenance
This document applies to natural persons and business organizations. It establishes a public registry for major environmental violations. Violators face fines (10 million HUF for individuals, 50 million HUF for businesses), with their data being published on the minister’s website for two years after the violation.
Ireland
New Principal Document – Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025
Publication Date: 14 April 2025
Industry Sector: Water Transportation
This document applies to ship owners, masters, crew members, and investigators. It establishes requirements for marine accident investigations and safety standards for offshore service vessels, including mandatory reporting of accidents, compliance with safety regulations, and cooperation with investigators.*
It replaces the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000. The first effective date of the document that makes the change has not yet been announced.
First Effective Date: 21 May 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry
This document applies to persons and companies distributing or marketing petrol, diesel fuels, and gas oils in Ireland. It sets environmental specifications and requirements for fuels, including sulfur content limits, biofuel content disclosure, and proper labeling of metallic additives. Violations can result in fines or imprisonment.*
Switzerland
New Principal Document – Ordinance on the placing on the market of renewable or low-emission fuels and combustibles (OMCC)
First Effective Date: 1 May 2025
Industry Sector: Utilities and Communications
This document applies to anyone involved in marketing renewable or low-emission fuels in Switzerland. It establishes ecological criteria for such fuels, requiring marketers to obtain authorization from environmental authorities by demonstrating their fuels emit 40% less greenhouse gases and cause no more than 25% additional environmental impact compared to conventional fossil fuels.*
Amended Document – Ordinance on the reduction of CO2 emissions (CO2 Ordinance)
Amending Document – Ordinance on the reduction of CO2 emissions (CO2 Ordinance) Amendment of April 2, 2025
First Effective Date: 1 January 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
The changes, according to the Swiss government, notably:
- set out the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in various sectors (e.g., construction, transport, industry, and other sectors) until 2030, requiring at least two-thirds of greenhouse gas emission reductions to be achieved through measures within Switzerland; and
- introduce new climate change adaptation measures and incentive measures for companies.
In particular, the changes focus on specifying the relevant requirements for aircraft operators, vehicle importers, and facility operators in the context of emissions trading systems, compensation obligations, and renewable fuel requirements, such as by:
- specifying requirements for issuing certificates for emission reduction projects;
- specifying the relevant reporting requirements, such as the information required in the project description submitted to the validation body and the information required for heating and hot water in new and old buildings;
- updating measures for reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles, such as the clarification of the applicability of the rules to different types of vehicles and the specification of the obligations of importers of heavy vehicles; and
- introducing new support instruments for industry.
More information about the change, including any additional effective dates, is available here.
United Kingdom
Amended Document – The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001
Amending Document – The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025
First Effective Date: 22 May 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
The changes, according to the Government of the United Kingdom, notably:
- add “updated methods to measure airborne noise emitted by equipment for use outdoors”;
- update “the permissible sound power level of equipment for outdoor use”; and
- remove the requirement for manufacturers of products “to provide a copy of the declaration of conformity to the Secretary of State and to the European Commission”.
New Principal Document – The Oil and Gas Authority (Carbon Storage) (Retention of Information and Samples) Regulations 2025
First Effective Date: 13 May 2025
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management and Maintenance
This document applies to carbon storage licensees. It outlines requirements for retaining carbon storage information and samples, including survey data, well information, site details, injection/production data, monitoring information, and installation records.*
Past months’ top changes are available here: March 2025, February 2025, January 2025, December 2024, November 2024, October 2024
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