The BWF and our members are regularly consulted by Government and other bodies on policies, standards, legislation and regulations affecting the woodworking and joinery industry.
Below is a list of open consultations that we believe will have an impact on our members and our industry as a whole.
| Organisation | Heading | Description | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) | Reforming domestic CITES implementation | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking views on proposed reforms to the domestic implementation of CITES. The proposed reforms will support the government’s delivery of Corry Review recommendations on reviewing environmental regulations to ensure they deliver both economic growth and positive conservation outcomes. See section 4.10 For full consultation click here | 23 October 2025 |
| Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) | Machinery safety legislation: call for evidence | EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 applies in the EU from January 2027, bringing in changes intended to clarify and future-proof the legislation in this area, including the creation of common specifications, a move to paperless documentation, and obligations on all actors in the supply chain. The Government is considering whether to introduce these measures across the UK. It is seeking views on the issues associated with the continued recognition of new EU product requirements for machinery, and the implementation of the same approach. The consultation can be accessed here | 20 October 2025 |
| England and UK | Machinery safety legislation: call for evidence | EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 applies in the EU from January 2027, bringing in changes intended to clarify and future-proof the legislation in this area, including the creation of common specifications, a move to paperless documentation, and obligations on all actors in the supply chain. The Government is considering whether to introduce these measures across the UK. We are seeking views on the issues associated with the continued recognition of new EU product requirements for machinery, and the implementation of the same approach. The full call for evidence can be found here | 20 October 2025 |
| Scotland | Permitted development rights to support provision of new homes | The Scottish Government is exploring whether permitted development rights (“PDR”) can play a greater role in helping to address the housing emergency. This consultation primarily relates to potential PDR changes that might help to address the housing emergency. It also seeks views on measures to support the deployment of heat networks and domestic air source heat pumps. The full consultation can be found here | 27 October 2025 |
| Health Safety Executive (HSE) | Industry Competence Committee - Setting Expectations for Competence Management | The Industry Competence Committee invites feedback from Industry on its guidance document, Setting Expectations for Competence Management. The Industry Competence Committee (ICC) was formed under the Building Safety Act 2022 to provide strategic leadership, assistance and encouragement to facilitate the improvement of competence in the built environment industry. It advises both the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and industry on matters of competence. The ICC has an objective to set clear expectations for industry on competence and what good looks like for individuals and organisations. The full consultation can be found here | 6 November 2025 |
| Northern Ireland | Consultation on the setting of Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget (2038-2042) | The purpose of this consultation is to offer respondents the opportunity to provide their views on the percentage level at which the Fourth Carbon Budget for Northern Ireland should be set and to offer any supporting evidence which they believe should be considered. Responses will be used to help inform the development of the Regulations. The full consultation can be found here | 17 November 2025 |
| Wales | Building Regulations Part L: 2025 review | The Welsh Government is consulting on the impacts of changes to Building Regulations Part L (conservation of fuel and power). This also includes changes to: • Part F (Ventilation), and • Part O (Overheating) of the Building Regulations, and • associated Approved Document guidance. For the full consultation click here | 17 November 2025 |
| Northern Ireland - DAERA | Consultation on the setting of Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget (2038-2042) | Consultation on the setting of Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget (2038-2042) The Climate Change (Carbon Budgets 2023-2037) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 which were approved by the Assembly in December 2024 set the first three carbon budgets for Northern Ireland. They are: • First Carbon Budget: The carbon budget for the 2023-2027 budgetary period is an annual average of 33% lower than the baseline. • Second Carbon Budget: The carbon budget for the 2028-2032 budgetary period is an annual average of 48% lower than the baseline. • Third Carbon Budget: The carbon budget for the 2033-2037 budgetary period is an annual average of 62% lower than the baseline. In line with the requirements of sections 56 and 58 of the Act we have sought and obtained the expert advice of the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) on the level at which Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget should be set. In March this year the UK Climate Change Committee provided an advice report “Northern Ireland’s Fourth Carbon Budget”, to the Northern Ireland Executive and it recommends that the Fourth Carbon Budget is set at an annual average reduction of 77% in emissions across the period (against the 1990 baseline). The purpose of this consultation is to offer respondents the opportunity to provide their views on the percentage level at which the Fourth Carbon Budget for Northern Ireland should be set and to offer any supporting evidence which they believe should be considered. Responses will be used to help inform the development of the Regulations For full consultation click here | 17 November 2025 |
| Northen Ireland - The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) | Public Consultation - Review of Planning Fees | The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has published a public consultation and invites views from the public and stakeholders on potential changes to The Planning (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (the Fees Regulations). These potential changes focus on the introduction of set fees for non-material changes and discharge of conditions planning applications. For consulatation click here | 23 December 2025 |
