Environmental Information Regulations

The Environmental Information Regulations 2004, effective from 1st January 2005, impose specific legal requirements onto public organisations and private companies acting on behalf of public organisations in regard to the public's 'right to know' - as part of the UK's implementation of the UN Aarhus Convention, the EU directive on Public Access to Environmental Information, and the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000. These regulations require any organisation carrying out a public function to provide information to the public, on demand, across a broad range of environmental subject matter. This will require many organisations to maintain and publicise information on their performance way beyond their current capabilities, across a range of environmental issues which many will not have seen a need to address until now.

Guidance to the EU and UK legislation stresses the benefit of proactive reporting, particularly using electronic media such as the Internet, as otherwise affected organisations could be obliged to generate individual responses to each enquiry - likely to be an inefficient and time-consuming process.

EcoReports offers practical assistance to those organisations affected by the regulations, as well as helping members of the public to formulate their requests for information.

Join EcoReports

Establishing an EcoReports 'Companies & Organisations' or 'Community' listing will help your organisation comply with the Government recommendations to supply environmental information proactively, in an accessible and transparent manner.

An EcoReports listing will allow your organisation to provide information on its general approach to the environment, as well as specific reports to demonstrate greater levels of detail and performance. Listed organisations can add further reports whenever they choose, and have access to EcoReports' software tools to help compile new reports where these do not already exist. Additional automatic update, bulletin board and feedback features allow you to develop a direct relationship with enquirers, while specific EIR information management facilities can help demonstrate that your organisation is meeting its obligations.

Click here to find out how you can join EcoReports.

Training

The Government EIR Code of Practice recommends all affected organisations to ensure that everyone dealing with correspondence or providing information to the public is familiar with their responsibilities under the Environmental Information Regulations.

If you wish to obtain an EcoReports interactive training session, explaining the background to the Regulations, your organisation's responsibilities, and its options for meeting them please complete the simple form below

Making an EIR request for information

Making an EIR request from an EcoReports-registered company/organisation

Members of the public can request environmental information from an EcoReports-registered public authority or other body covered by the regulations by completing a simple form.

Making an EIR request from a company/organisation not currently EcoReports-registered

If you know the email address of a company/organisation that is not currently EcoReports-registered you can send a request directly. Click here for the Standard EIR Request text that should be included in your email.

Encourage an organisation covered by the EIR to register

Click here if you would like to encourage an organisation covered by the EIR to register with EcoReports.