Proposals which could introduce tighter rules on solid fuel heating and a ban on some older types of log burners and wood burners have been met with a call for fines under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Labour already announced a consultation on its Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which includes a raft of policies to reduce waste and cut pollution levels. Under the proposals set out in the plan, manufacturers of wood burners would be banned from selling older models unless they meet new standards, though burners already in use would not be retrospectively outlawed.
Smoke Control Areas, which set limits on the types of solid fuel which can be burned in log burners, fireplaces and chimneys in certain areas of England, could also be made even more strict under the proposals. Today, following the start of the new PM’s tenure, industry figures at Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) representing solid fuel burning manufacturers, are urging Mr Burnham to focus on issuing fines to get people to ditch their old burners, rather than on tightening rules on new products.
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A new ban is set to hit some types of log and wood burner (Image: Getty)
HETAS told the Express: “With Andy Burnham as prime minister, the government’s consultation on solid fuel burning, which stems from the new Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), is expected to be back in the spotlight – proposals for stricter stove emissions limits, higher fines for selling wet wood, and new warning labels.”
Calvin May, HETAS head of technical & certification, is pushing for action to focus on older models. He said: “A wood burner isn’t a fashion accessory you swap out each season – stoves can sit in a home for fifteen years or more. Tightening smoke limits for new log burners is welcome, but this is going to take over a decade to filter through to most homes.
“If the government wants cleaner air sooner, it needs a serious plan for the open fires and outdated stoves in homes right now – not the advanced ones coming onto the market. Until there is a proper plan for these this proposal is only a partial fix.”
The Government has said it will consult on measures to reduce the environmental impact of the public burning wood, such as stoves and bonfires, after it unveiled the revised EIP in December.
Ministers said the consultation will aim to ‘minimise the impact’ of these changes on those who need to burn wood and to respect traditional festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali. The Government has tightened the target to cut the emissions of PM2.5 – a fine particulate pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease and heart conditions – by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.
According to the official figures, a fifth of PM2.5 emissions in 2023 came from domestic combustion.
The EIP states: “The burning of solid fuels is a large contributor to national emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and is a major source of air pollution, especially in urban areas. The World Health Organisation considers PM2.5 the most harmful pollutant to human health (air pollution is responsible for 6.7 million premature deaths every year, World Health Organisation (WHO) 2025).
“These particles can enter the bloodstream and internal organs, and there is a growing body of evidence linking exposure with a range of debilitating health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma. We will consult on further measures to reduce emissions from domestic burning… Consult on new measures that cut emissions from domestic combustion, whilst minimising the impact on those that need to burn and respecting traditional celebratory festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali.”
It is understood that the EIP will bring the UK’s PM2.5 standards in line with the EU, which was not the case under the previous EIP, published by the Conservatives in 2023.
Helen Bentley-Fox, Woodsure director, said plans for a £2,000 fine for non-compliance with the new rules were welcome. She said: “We regularly hear from genuine, law-abiding firewood suppliers who are frustrated that competitors selling dirty, non-compliant wood seem to face little more than a slap on the wrist. £2,000 is a real step forward, because for the first time it makes staying on the wrong side of the law meaningfully expensive. But raising the fine only works if it’s enforced, and that needs to be a priority otherwise we’ll keep seeing the same problems.”
“Genuine suppliers who play by the rules keep telling us it doesn’t feel like a level playing field when a competitor selling wet wood risks almost nothing. £2,000 changes that and will reduce the sale of dirty fuel, but only if enforcement follows. The next step is closing the gap that lets sellers dodge the rules altogether by claiming to only sell bulk – but this fine only has teeth if everyone is playing by the same rules”,
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, whose nine-year-old daughter Ella died from an asthma attack linked to air pollution in 2013, welcomed the new PM2.5 goal as a “win”.
Ms Kissi-Debrah has been campaigning for “Ella’s Law”, which would require the Government to achieve clean air throughout England by January 1, 2030, setting out a pathway to bring the country in line with World Health Organisation air pollution guidelines.
“It’s not quite Ella’s Law yet, but it’s a step in the right direction,” she told the Press Association.
“So because of that, I’m pleased. Anything that’s going to improve the air, and that means less children are going to be hospitalised and less children are going to die, I am always going to be for it.”
Log burner and wood burner law change under Andy Burnham on table
Households across Britain that use log burners and wood-burning stoves are facing the possibility of tighter rules as the government considers new measures aimed at reducing air pollution.
The proposals have attracted attention because they could introduce tougher emissions standards for new stoves, stronger requirements for product and fuel labelling, and increased enforcement against non-compliant solid fuels.
However, there is an important distinction between the proposals currently being considered and an outright ban on wood-burning stoves. The government has not announced a blanket ban on existing household wood burners. Instead, ministers are consulting on measures intended to reduce emissions from domestic burning.
The issue has become particularly relevant under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whose government has inherited the consultation and wider environmental commitments.
What is actually being proposed?
The government’s consultation concerns domestic burning of solid fuels, including wood and manufactured solid fuels.
According to the House of Commons Library, domestic burning accounted for about a fifth of the UK’s PM2.5 emissions in 2023. PM2.5 refers to extremely small particles that can enter the respiratory system and are associated with a range of health risks. The Library says emissions from domestic burning have increased in recent years as the use of wood-burning stoves has grown.
The government launched a consultation in January 2026 covering possible changes to the rules.
Among the measures under consideration are new emission limits for appliances, mandatory labelling for appliances and fuels, and health-related warning labels.
The consultation is therefore aimed at reducing pollution rather than simply eliminating wood burning as a form of heating.
Will existing log burners be banned?
This is one of the most important questions for homeowners.
At present, the proposals do not amount to a retrospective ban on every wood-burning stove already installed in a home.
The government has also stated that wood-burning stoves will continue to be permitted as secondary heating sources under the forthcoming Future Homes Standard.
That means homeowners should not interpret the current proposals as an instruction that every existing stove must immediately be removed.
Instead, the strongest proposed restrictions are focused on new appliances and the fuels being sold and burned.
The distinction could become significant if ministers eventually introduce tighter standards. Older appliances could remain in use while newer models would have to meet higher emissions requirements.
Why are ministers looking at wood burning?
The central argument concerns fine particulate pollution.
Wood burning can produce PM2.5, particularly when inefficient appliances are used or unsuitable fuel is burned.
The government therefore wants to reduce emissions from domestic combustion while attempting to minimise the impact on people who rely on solid fuel for heating.
The consultation also recognises that domestic burning has social and cultural dimensions. Government proposals have been framed to take account of traditional celebrations such as Bonfire Night and Diwali.
The objective is consequently not simply to stop people from lighting fires.
Instead, ministers are examining whether the way solid fuels are sold, labelled and burned can be changed to reduce pollution.
Smoke Control Areas already have restrictions
Some homeowners may already be subject to rules without realising it.
Smoke Control Areas exist across parts of England. In these areas, people generally cannot release smoke from a chimney unless they are using an authorised fuel or an exempt appliance.
The current GOV.UK guidance states that individuals can face penalties of up to £300 if their chimney releases smoke in a Smoke Control Area. Buying unauthorised fuel for an appliance that is not approved can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
Wood can still be burned in a Smoke Control Area when the appliance is an exempt appliance and the manufacturer’s requirements are followed.
This existing system provides an important context for the new proposals.
The government is not starting from zero. There are already restrictions governing smoke emissions, fuels and appliances in particular parts of the country.
Tougher rules for new stoves
One of the proposals attracting attention is the possibility of tighter emissions standards for new wood-burning appliances.
The government has confirmed that it is considering tighter emission limits for new stoves as part of the consultation.
The practical effect would be that manufacturers could face stricter requirements when designing and selling new appliances.
This could gradually change the types of stoves available to consumers.
It would not necessarily mean that somebody who already owns an older stove has to replace it immediately.
Instead, the impact could emerge progressively as older appliances reach the end of their useful lives and homeowners purchase replacements.
The problem with relying only on new appliances
Industry representatives have raised an important issue.
If a stove can remain in a home for many years, improving the standards of newly manufactured appliances will not immediately eliminate emissions from older models.
HETAS, an organisation representing manufacturers and other parts of the solid-fuel heating industry, has argued that greater attention should also be paid to older appliances already installed in homes.
Industry representatives have suggested that simply tightening standards for new stoves could take many years to produce a major change in the overall emissions produced by domestic burning.
This creates a policy dilemma.
Stricter standards for new products are relatively straightforward to introduce. Addressing existing appliances is more complicated because homeowners have already purchased them and may rely on them for heating.
A future government could therefore face pressure to develop additional measures aimed at older stoves.
Fines could also increase
Another part of the debate concerns enforcement.
Current rules already provide councils with powers to impose penalties in certain circumstances. However, enforcement can be difficult.
The House of Commons Library notes that local authorities may have to witness smoke emissions directly when dealing with certain breaches, which can make enforcement challenging.
The government’s consultation therefore includes stronger enforcement as part of the wider package.
Industry representatives have also discussed increased fines for the sale of non-compliant or unsuitable fuels.
One proposal reported in September involves a potential £2,000 penalty relating to certain non-compliant firewood sales. Supporters argue that larger penalties could provide a stronger incentive for suppliers to follow the rules.
But enforcement will remain crucial.
A higher maximum fine does not automatically mean that every household or supplier will face penalties. Authorities still need clear rules, evidence and the resources to enforce them.
Wet wood is another area of concern
The type of wood being burned is important.
Wet wood contains significant moisture and can produce more smoke and particulate pollution than properly seasoned or suitable fuel.
Existing rules already restrict the sale of certain types of wet wood in England.
The proposed changes could strengthen requirements surrounding the sale and labelling of fuels, making it easier for consumers to understand what they are buying and whether it is suitable for their appliance.
For homeowners, this means that future changes may concern not only the stove itself but also the fuel placed inside it.
What Andy Burnham’s government has to decide
The proposals originated before Burnham became prime minister, meaning they should not be described as a completely new policy personally created by him.
However, his government now has responsibility for deciding what happens next.
A government consultation is not the same thing as a final law.
Ministers must consider responses, assess evidence and determine which proposals should proceed.
The February 2026 parliamentary answer from Environment Minister Emma Hardy made this explicit. Asked whether the government planned to restrict or ban wood-burning stoves in homes, she said ministers were consulting on measures including tighter emissions limits, improved labelling and stronger enforcement, and that the government would consider the evidence before making final decisions.
That leaves considerable room for the final policy to differ from the proposals currently being discussed.
What homeowners should know
For people who already own a log burner, the immediate situation is therefore less dramatic than some headlines suggest.
There is currently no blanket rule requiring all existing wood-burning stoves to be removed.
However, homeowners should continue to follow the rules that already apply in their area.
That includes checking whether the property is in a Smoke Control Area, using an appropriate appliance and burning permitted fuel.
People considering buying a new stove should also be aware that emissions standards could become stricter in the future.
The same applies to firewood suppliers and retailers, who may face more detailed requirements regarding fuel quality and labelling.
A wider clean-air debate
The wood-burning issue forms part of a much broader environmental agenda.
Burnham’s government has already announced policies covering energy, transport, housing and public services, while attempting to balance environmental objectives with household costs.
The challenge with domestic wood burning is particularly sensitive because some households view wood as an important source of heating, while environmental and health campaigners want stronger action to reduce particulate pollution.
The policy therefore involves competing considerations.
Reducing emissions may improve air quality, but regulations also need to account for households that depend on solid-fuel heating, especially where alternatives are limited or expensive.
What happens next?
The government’s consultation process will determine how far the proposals eventually go.
Possible changes include stricter emissions limits for new stoves, clearer product and fuel labels, stronger health warnings and increased enforcement.
None of those proposals should automatically be interpreted as a nationwide ban on existing log burners.
For Burnham’s government, the challenge will be deciding how aggressively to reduce pollution while maintaining practical heating options for households.
For homeowners, the key issue will be whether future legislation targets new appliances, fuel suppliers, existing installations, or some combination of the three.
The debate is therefore likely to continue.
The current proposals represent a potential tightening of Britain’s approach to domestic wood burning, but they remain part of a consultation and policy-development process.
For now, the most accurate picture is not that every log burner is about to become illegal. Rather, the government is considering a package of measures that could make future wood-burning appliances cleaner, strengthen rules surrounding fuels and increase enforcement of existing pollution controls.
The eventual legislation, if introduced, will determine how significant the changes become for millions of households that use wood or other solid fuels for heating.