Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)

These came into effect on 1 January 2005. Whilst affecting Ordnance Survey in many respects and being very similar to FOIA in many respects, with the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 equally applicable to EIR, Ordnance Survey does not consider that any of its mapping or mapping data is defined as 'environmental information' under EIR.

EIR is primarily concerned with the state of or effects upon the environment. Ordnance Survey data does not indicate this; it merely shows that a topographical feature exists in a particular geographical position and does not declare either its state or whether any activity  has an effect upon it.

Any requests for access to our mapping data will be treated under the section 6 (1) (b) exemption under EIR (similar to the section 21 exemption under the FOIA).