Boris’ government is certainly right up there in dishing out inane logos, but the latest one accompanies draft legislation that was discussed in the Parliamentary Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee this morning 16 September 2020, and its a DOOZY.

The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 are intended to address the environmentally harmful effects of burning damp wood in currently fashionable wood burners.

Under the proposed legislation a supplier of less than 2 cu. m. will be forbidden from supplying wood with a moisture content of more than 20%. To comply with the requirement the wood must be certified by an approved certification body and be accompanied by a logo, gloriously entitled READY TO BURN.

Given the current furore over the Government’s failures over COVID-19, Test and Trace, BREXIT etc. and the upcoming Guy Fawkes Night, I can imagine this logo appearing in protest placards up and down the country.

Of course the legislation is founded on good intentions, but it’s full of sledgehammer clauses to crack the proverbial nut.

A whole new breed of certifier – “approved manufactured solid fuel certification body”, which will be at least on person appointed by the Secretary of State, who will dish out certificates (who’s just lost their job in Parliament that needs a position?)

Persons that will analyse the moisture content – “the analyst” who has
“purported” to determine whether the fuel in question does not have prohibited characteristics (moisture, sulphur content, smoke emissions). That’s a strange term for a piece of legislation – “appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; alleged.”

A government department compiling and maintaining lists of authorised fuels, which must be published in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

Enforcement Officers – Local Authorities are allowed to appoint an officer for enforcement and the issue of £300.00 Fixed Penalty Notices or add enforcement duties (including ‘secret shopper’ activities) to their current environmental dept. workload.

And for suppliers of wood sold in volumes of two cubic metres or
more, consignments must be accompanied by information stating its unsuitability for burning until it has been dried to a moisture content of 20% or less. Describing that wet wood contains moisture which creates smoke and harmful particulates when burnt, and as well as being harmful to health and the environment, it can also damage your stove and chimney and is an inefficient way to heat your home. Instructions to dry it in a sunny, well-aired space for at least two years, keeping rain off in the winter should be included, together with a suggestion that radial cracks and bark that comes off easily indicates wood that is ready for burning, but to test the wood when it appears ready for burning, ideally with a calibrated moisture meter on a freshly split surface.

When asked why legislation rather than education has been applied, references were made to the failure of education on the supermarket plastic bag usage problem. Shoppers only changed their ways when 5p charging was legislated. Really? It has long been held that consumers became so blase at 5p that they would buy the bag-for-life and continue their single use habits. So now we’re faced with a 10p charge.

In an ideal world, common sense would protect the environment, and the people would want to protect themselves from health issues, diseases, pandemics and COVidiots. Seems to me that common sense is in very short supply at the moment.

(NB. nothing in this piece is intended to incite burning Parliament or any other building, person or object)