The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR) establish Scotland’s integrated environmental permitting framework. They replace multiple legacy permitting regimes with a single, tiered authorisation system covering activities such as waste management, water discharges, radioactive substances, and pollution control. The Regulations are administered by SEPA and are central to environmental compliance for ISO 14001-aligned organisations operating in Scotland.
These Regulations modernise and consolidate environmental regulation in Scotland by introducing a proportionate, risk-based authorisation structure. Instead of separate permits under different regimes, operators must now comply with a unified environmental authorisation system tailored to the environmental risk posed by their activities. The regime strengthens enforcement powers, improves regulatory clarity, and aligns Scottish environmental governance with modern compliance principles.
Benefits of compliance:
