Health Impact Assessment (HIA) regulations
The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Regulations in Wales set out the legal requirements laid by Welsh Government for assessing how proposed strategic decisions may impact on people’s health and well-being. They are designed to ensure that decision-making across the public sector in Wales takes account of potential health impacts – both positive and unintended negative – before action is taken and inform decision making. It is also intended to ensure that health inequalities are considered as part of these decisions.
The Regulations are being introduced as part of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, which sets out the requirement for statutory HIAs by public bodies in Wales in specific circumstances.
These Regulations apply only to public bodies in Wales.
Transcript – Welsh Government’s Health Impact Assessment Regulations explained
The Welsh Government’s Health Impact Assessment Regulations explained
Health isn’t only influenced by healthcare — it’s shaped by the places we grow up, the jobs we do, and the opportunities we have. These are known as the wider determinants of health.
On 6 April 2027, the Health Impact Assessment (Wales) Regulations 2025, introduced by Welsh Government under the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 will come into force. This means that when a public body covered by the regulations proposes to make a decision of a strategic nature about how it is to exercise its functions, a Health Impact Assessment or HIA must be completed.
A HIA is a structured way to assess how a proposed decision might affect the physical and mental health of people in Wales — both now, and in the future.
Under the regulations, public bodies must:
1. Identify the decision being made.
2. Identify any groups of the population whose physical or mental health the public body reasonably considers may be affected by the decision.
3. Identify and assess any intended and unintended effects of the decision that the public body reasonably considers are likely, on the physical and mental health of any groups of the population identified, having regard to the wider determinants of health and any health inequity factors.
4. Identify and assess any measures that the public body reasonably considers may increase any positive effects or prevent, reduce or mitigate any negatives effects.
5. Publish the findings in such manner as the public body considers appropriate.
The HIA process is flexible and proportionate. Most HIAs will be rapid, completed in a few days or weeks. Some will be more comprehensive, taking longer for complex decisions. But all should be robust, evidence-based and transparent.
Public Health Wales is here to help – offering guidance, advice and training to support public bodies in carrying out HIAs effectively.
By embedding HIA into the making of certain decisions, Wales is leading the way — creating fairer, healthier communities for generations to come.
Further information on the Regulations, can be found on Welsh Government’s website:
- The Health Impact Assessment (Wales) Regulations
- Explanatory Memorandum to The HIA (Wales) Regulations 2025
If you have a specific query on the Regulations please contact Welsh Government: [email protected]
How can Public Health Wales support you?
Public Health Wales and WHIASU provides a range of support which includes a HIA guide as well as tools, training and capacity-building support to help public bodies understand the purpose of and apply HIA.
We do not have a regulatory, approval, or enforcement role under the Regulations. Responsibility for complying with the Regulations rests with the relevant public bodies.
Available support:
- General guidance on the HIA process, methods, and good practice
- Training sessions on HIA
- Access to written tools, templates, and resources
- Advice on scoping and approach to a HIA
- Signposting to relevant evidence, data sources, and case studies
Any requests for support are subject to capacity. Support provided by Public Health Wales and WHIASU is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice or a definitive interpretation of the law. Organisations should refer to the Regulations in full and seek independent advice where appropriate. Further information can be found on our website.
Public Health Wales and WHIASU cannot:
- Carry out or contribute to HIAs on behalf of other public bodies.
- Provide formal or informal approval or sign-off of HIAs to provide assurance of compliance with the Regulations
- Provide legal advice or interpret legislation on behalf of public bodies
- Take any responsibility for decisions made by public bodies with regards to the HIA Regulations.
Responsibility of public bodies subject to the Regulations:
Ensuring compliance with the Regulations- Determining when and how to undertake a HIA in specific circumstances
- The quality and content of the HIA
- Seeking independent legal advice where required.
Contact Wales Heath Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU).