# The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2026 W.S.I. 2026/119 · made 30 September 2026 This Order is the first commencement order made by the Welsh Ministers under the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 (“the Act”). Made under: Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 (Section 46) PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/environment-principles-governance-and-biodiversity-targets-wales-act-2026-commencement-no-1-order-2026/pdf/wsi_20260119_mi.pdf ## Introductory text ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WALES Made 30 September 2026 The Welsh Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the power conferred on them by section 46(4) of the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026. ## 1 Title The title of this Order is the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2026. ## 2 Provision coming into force on 5 October 2026 Section 9 (independence of the OEGW) of the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 comes into force on 5 October 2026. ## Signature Llyr Gruffydd Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, one of the Welsh Ministers 30 September 2026 ## Explanatory note (This note is not part of the Order) This Order is the first commencement order made by the Welsh Ministers under the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 (“the Act”). This Order brings section 9 of the Act into force on 5 October 2026. Section 9 requires the Welsh Ministers to have regard to the need to protect the independence of the Office of Environmental Governance Wales (“the OEGW”) when exercising their functions in respect of the OEGW. --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2026/119 (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/environment-principles-governance-and-biodiversity-targets-wales-act-2026-commencement-no-1-order-2026 Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.