Policy and legislation

Although there is no one-size-fits-all soil protection policy for Scotland, there is a range of legislation and policies that protects some aspects of soil and influences how our soils are managed. For information on the extent of the different legislative and policy mechanisms for the protection and management of soil in Scotland see: Soil governance in Scotland: mapping the institutional architecture - update.

Key legislation, policy and guidance relating to soils in Scotland includes:

Scottish Legislation: Acts

• Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024

• Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024

• Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019

• Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act (2018)

• Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act (2011)

• Climate Change (Scotland) Act (2009)

• Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act (2009)

• Planning etc. (Scotland) Act (2006)

• Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act (2005)

• Nature Conservation Scotland (Act) (2004)

• Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act (2003)

Scottish Legislation: Regulations

**From 1 November 2025, regulation of water, waste management and industrial activities move under the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR). This consolidates (and supersedes) previous regulations that affect or are affected by soils, including the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations (2012), Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations (2011), the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations (2011) and the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (1989).**

• The Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) 2018

• Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations (2008)

• Radioactive Contaminated Land (Scotland) (Amendments) Regulations (2007)

• The Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations (2005) & Statutory Guidance SE/2006/44

• Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations (1994) 

UK Legislation: Acts

• Environmental Protection Act – Part IIA: Contaminated Land (1990)

Scottish policy / guidance

• The Muirburn Code (2026)

• Scotland's Climate Change Plan: 2026–2040 (2026)

• The Environment Strategy for Scotland (2026)

• Rural Support Plan (RSP) (2026)

• Scotland's Fourth Land Use Strategy: 2026-2031 (2026)

• Sustainable and regenerative agriculture: code of practice (2026)

• Agricultural Reform Route Map (2025)

• Scotland's circular economy and waste route map to 2030 (2024)

• Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 (2024)

• Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan 2024-2030 (2024)

• Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (2024)

• National Planning Framework 4 (2023)

• Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill - policy memorandum (2023)

• River Basin Management Plans (2021)

• Flood Risk Management Plans (2021)

• Scotland's Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 (2019)

• Valuing Your Soils (2016)

• National Peatland Plan (2015)

• Natural Flood Management Handbook (2015)

• Guidance on suitable organic material applications for land restoration and improvement (2015)

• Strategic Environmental Assessment Guidance (2013)

• Planning Advice Note 33 (Development of Contaminated Land) (2000)

• Scottish Soil Framework (2009)

UK policy / guidance

• UK Woodland Carbon Code (2025)

• UK Forestry Standard (2023)

EU policy / guidance

• EU Soil Monitoring Law (2025)

• EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (2023)

• EU Soil Strategy for 2030 (2023)

• The common agricultural policy: 2023-27 (2022)

This page was last updated on 14 Aug 2026