Environmental Protection Law of 1999, No. 678–IQ.

This Law governs the legal, economic and social framework for environmental protection. The purpose of this Law is to guarantee environmental safety and the ecological balance of the environment, prevent the impact of socioeconomic and other activities, preserve biological diversity, and effectively manage the use of nature. This Law governs mutual relations between society and nature for the purpose of improving the quality of the environment, using and renewing natural resources efficiently, and enforcing environmental protection laws and legal procedures. The document consists of XIV Chapters that contain 82 Articles. Chapter I lays down the general provisions. Chapter II determines powers and duties in the environmental field. Chapter III regards nature use. Chapter IV concerns inventorying and monitoring the environment and natural resources and standardization and certification. Chapter V deals with economic regulation in the field of environmental protection. Chapter VI regards regulation of the ecological balance of the environment. Chapter VII specifies environmental requirements in economic and other fields. Chapter VIII deals with environmental reviews. Chapter IX regards education, training, research, statistics and information in the field of ecology and environmental protection. Chapter X deals with environmental emergencies and environmental disaster areas. Chapter XI establishes environmental enforcement. Chapter XII concerns environmental audits and their conduct. Chapter XIII establishes liability for environmental violations and dispute settlements. Chapter XIV regards international cooperation in the environmental field.