A ban on some wood burning stoves could be introduced under new laws to tackle indoor pollution in people's homes. Labour has this week unveiled its new Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which contains a raft of policies aimed at reducing waste and cutting pollution.

Under the proposals set out in the plan, which also includes new food waste bin collections, manufacturers of wood burners would be banned from selling older models unless they meet new standards, though burners already in use would not be retroactively 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.

The Government has said it will consult on measures to reduce the environmental impact of the public burning wood, such as stoves and bonfires, as it unveiled the revised EIP on Monday.

Ministers said the consultation will try to minimise the impact these changes have 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 concentrations 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.

Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, whose nine-year-old daughter 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.

"Obviously, it's not everything which I want, and (Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds) knows that, but I would take this win."

Calvin May, Head of Technical Servicesat HETAS, which represents the solid fuel industry, said: "Wood burners, multifuel stoves, and pellet stoves that meet Cleaner Choice standards already meet potential EIP targets, demonstrating that industry is well-prepared for this change and committed to improving our air quality.

"Labour's move to tighten PM2.5 targets and consult on how to effectively reduce emissions from domestic burning is a necessary and welcome step.

"We urge policymakers to focus on practical, enforceable solutions that are aligned with industry professionals. This will accelerate the transition to less polluting technologies while supporting stove owners to make informed choices about how they burn, what they burn, and when they burn. Cleaner air is achievable, and the solid fuel industry has long been committed to playing its part."