Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 3991 of 2004).

These Regulations implement Council Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC, except in relation to Scottish public authorities. Regulation 2 contains definitions of expressions in these Regulations, including the definition of environmental information, which is the same as in Council Directive 2003/4/EC. Regulation 3 applies the Regulations to public authorities and makes provision in relation to the environmental information held by public authorities. It also provides that a public authority will not be subject to these Regulations to the extent that it is acting in a judicial or legislative capacity and that the Regulations do not apply to either House of Parliament to the extent required for the purpose of avoiding an infringement of the privileges of either House. And it provides that each Government department is to be treated separately for the purposes of Parts 2, 4 and 5 of the Regulations. Part 2 of the Regulations contains provisions relating to access to environmental information. Regulation 4 requires public authorities progressively to make available environmental information to the public by electronic means which are easily accessible. And public authorities must take reasonable steps to organize the environmental information they hold relevant to their functions with a view to the active and systematic dissemination of the information to the public.