Section 22 subsection (1) enables the Secretary of State to make regulations as necessary to implement standards and guidelines adopted by the Conference of the Parties under Article 38 of the BBNJ Agreement. These regulations can be made in relation to a licensable marine activity. Article 38 outlines that the Scientific and Technical Body, established by Article 49 of the BBNJ Agreement, can develop standards and guidelines on the conduct of EIAs under the agreement for consideration and adoption by the Conference of Parties, including on an indicative non-exhaustive list of activities that require an EIA and those that do not. It can also suggest any specific criteria for activities that it considers do or do not need EIAs.
	Section 22 subsection (2) defines "licensable marine activity" as an activity listed in section 66(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (as that section has effect from time to time) and defines "Article 38 standards or guidelines" as those adopted from time to time under Article 38 of the BBNJ Agreement.
	Regulations under Section 22 may include, for example, amendments or modifications to Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Section 22 subsection (3)).
	Section 22 subsection (4) provides that any consequential provision that may be made by regulations under Section 22 in reliance on the power in Section 29(2)(b) of the Act to make consequential provisions can include provision to amend or repeal a provision of an Act of Parliament whenever passed (as well as provision made under such an Act).
	Section 22 subsections (5) and (6) outline the Parliamentary procedures that take effect when regulations are made using this power. Subsection (5) establishes that regulations under this section that amend an Act of Parliament are subject to the draft affirmative procedure, and Subsection (6) establishes that all other regulations under this section are subject to the negative procedure.
Part 4 – Environmental Impact Assessments Section 22: Power to make regulations: Secretary of State