Overview
- Ministers are consulting on lowering permitted smoke emissions for new solid-fuel appliances from around 5 g per hour to 1 g per hour.
- The proposed standard would apply only to the placement on the market of new appliances, leaving existing stoves unaffected.
- Officials are also seeking views on strengthening Smoke Control Areas and on further measures covering domestic burning such as bonfires.
- Domestic combustion produced about one-fifth of the UK's PM2.5 emissions in 2023, according to official figures cited in the plan.
- Industry group HETAS says many models already meet Cleaner Choice thresholds and campaigners back tougher goals, with ministers pledging to minimise impacts and to respect events like Bonfire Night and Diwali.