Review of the use of Peat Moss in Horticulture - Final Report of the Chairman of the Working Group

The Working Group on the Use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry was established following a series of High Court decisions which determined that large scale peat harvesting requires planning permission and licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Working Group was tasked in particular with examining the potential of alternatives to peat for the horticultural industry. The Chair’s Final Report on the work of the Working Group is published below.

Arising from the Report, a joint series of Actions was developed by the Department of Agriculture, working in collaboration with the Departments of Environment, Climate and Communication, and Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The paper setting out these actions is published here.

In addition, a guidance document on the regulatory framework for peat extraction has been commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Guide is intended for information purposes only and is not legal interpretation of the relevant regulatory requirements which currently apply to peat extraction.