Air Quality Law, 2002 (Law No. 188(I)/2002).

The Law aims to: (a) define and establish ambient air quality objectives in the Republic, (b) assess air quality based on common methods and criteria of the EU (c) obtain adequate information on ambient air quality and ensure that it is made available to the public (d) maintain the air quality where it is good and improve it in other cases. Responsible for the implementation of the Law is the Minister of Labour and Social Security, which may appoint the Chief Inspector, Inspectors and other authorized persons for purposes of the special provisions of this Law. For the better implementation of the Law, the Minister shall adopt measures for: (a) assessing the quality of the air (b) approve measurement instruments (c) ensuring the quality of measurements in accordance with the requirements of common European standards of quality assessment (d) analysing the assessment methods, and (e) conducting the coordination, in Cyprus, of quality assessment programs of the European Commission. The Law contains specific provisions for the assessment and management of air quality, particularly on the following topics: a) establishment of limit values and alert thresholds for the main pollutants of the atmosphere b) monitoring with systematic measurements of the quality of ambient air based on specific criteria and techniques including the general preliminary assessment of air quality in Cyprus c) measures which must be taken when the limit values and alert thresholds are beyond the normal standards d) creation of lists of the different zones and agglomerations based on the level of air pollution e) continuous updating of the European Commission and the public about the air quality f) keeping of records. According to the Law, apart from the detailed assessment of air quality in Cyprus it is also prescribed to perform measurements and surveys so as to collect data for a preliminary assessment of air quality. The Act provides for the issuing of regulations (Article 8) for the assessment and management of air quality for a variety of specific pollutants. Generally, the Law introduces a new approach on the assessment and management of air quality by addressing the protection of human health and the environment as a whole. In this context, is taken into account not only the pollution from industrial sources but also pollution deriving from vehicles, central heating, airplanes, ships and even from natural sources.