G/TBT/N/GBR/35  
6 April 2020  
(20-2717) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED KINGDOM   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  England, 
United Kingdom  
2. Agency responsible:   
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  
Air Quality and Industrial Emissions  
Ground Floor, Seacole Building  
2 Marsham Street  
London  
SW1P 4DF  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if av ailable) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
UK TBT Enquiry Point  
Trade Policy Group  
Department for International Trade  
3 Whitehall Place  
London  
SW1A 2AW  
TBTEnquiriesUK@trade.gov.uk   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other : Technical 
Regulation - Local Government (Article 3.2)  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  This 
legislation will impact on the following fuels, in  England only and for domestic burning 
purposes only. 1. Manufactured Solid Fuels 2. Wet Wood 3. Bituminous Coal  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Title: The Air 
Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulati ons 2020 (12 page(s), in 
English)  
6. Description of content:  The purpose of the Statutory Instrument (SI) - The Air Quality 
(Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (ENGLAND) Regulations 2020 - is to restrict the sale of 
the most polluting fuels used for domestic  burning in England.  
The SI introduces;  
1. A restriction on the sale of bituminous coal for domestic combustion.  This will be 
phased out by February 2023.  
2. A restriction on the sale of wet wood under 2m³.  Wet wood is wood with a moisture 
content of above 20%.  This will come into effect in February 2021.  G/TBT/N/GBR/35  
 
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  3. A restriction on Manufactured Solid Fuels sold for use in domestic burning.  The fuel 
must emit less than 5g of smoke an hour and must have a sulphur content below 2%.  
4. It will also i ntroduce a mandatory certification scheme for all Manufactured Solid Fuels 
and wood sold in volumes less than 2m³. This certification scheme will provide evidence 
for consumers and retailers that the fuel they are buying meets the legislation's 
requirement s.  
This legislation is being introduced to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 
emissions.  These emissions are known to have a significant impact on human health and 
it is essential that we take steps to reduce them.  
7. Objective and rationale, includ ing the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Domestic burning through wood burning stoves and coal fires now makes up 
the largest single contributor to our national emissions of fine particulate matter 
(PM2.5).   The tiny particles in smoke can enter  the bloodstream and internal organs 
causing long term health issues, as well as having more immediate impacts on some, 
such as breathing problems or asthma attacks.   This instrument introduces restrictions 
on the sale of wet wood for domestic burning, pha ses out the sale of bituminous coal, and 
applies sulphur limits and smoke emission limits to manufactured solid fuels.; Protection 
of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020  
Explanatory Memorandum to the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) 
Regulations 2020  
Impact Assessment (IA):   Proposed regulation of the sale, distribution and marketing of:  
• Wet wood (>20% moisture) sold in units up to 2m3 
• Bituminous house coal  
• Banning manufactured solid fuels with sulphur content over 2%  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  July 2020  
Proposed date of entry into force:  21 February 2021  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/GBR/20_2353_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto .org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/GBR/20_2353_01_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/GBR/20_2353_02_e.pdf