Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2466 of 2024 amending some provisions of the Executive Regulations of the Environment Law issued by Prime Minister’s Decision No. 338 of 1995.

These Regulations, consisting of 5 articles, amend specific provisions of the 1995 Environment Law's Executive Regulations to simplify the process for issuing environmental approvals and update environmental requirements and standards. The key amendments focus on (i) improving the reception and review process for environmental studies and their supplements; (ii) enabling existing establishments to submit environmental review plans; (iii) strengthening the role of environmental consultants and specialists; (iv) modernizing the environmental registry system by introducing electronic submissions and streamlining monitoring procedures for establishments.
Particularly significant amendments concern the following articles (i) Article 4 designates the Board of Directors of the Environmental Affairs Agency as the supreme authority managing the Agency's operations. The Board is tasked with establishing general policies, approving national environmental protection plans, endorsing emergency response plans for environmental disasters, and reviewing draft environmental legislation. Furthermore, it is responsible for approving the Agency's work plans, programs, pioneering and experimental projects, as well as environmental training policies and strategies; (ii) Article 10 requires that all individuals and entities, whether public or private, submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the relevant administrative or licensing authority before initiating any project. The EIA must adhere to the criteria and specifications established by the Environmental Affairs Agency in coordination with the appropriate administrative authorities. Additionally, the administrative bodies overseeing industrial areas are obligated to provide a comprehensive study on pollution loads and activity distribution plans to ensure compatibility and mitigate adverse effects from neighboring activities. This study must include an integrated environmental management plan addressing waste management, industrial wastewater treatment and disposal, and self-monitoring measures for air quality, noise levels, and wastewater; (iii) Article 12 stipulates that licensed environmental practitioners must prepare Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for any establishment or project under guidelines issued by the Environmental Affairs Agency; (iv) Article 13 permits the Environmental Affairs Agency to seek expert opinions on environmental impact assessments for proposed establishments applying for licenses by consulting public or private consultancy bodies, research centers, or universities. Article 13 bis outlines specific environmental specializations and activities that unlicensed practitioners are prohibited from performing, including environmental risk assessments, environmental management systems, and sustainable environmental practices. Additionally, environmental measurements must be carried out in accredited laboratories capable of analyzing the required pollutants; (v) Article 17 mandates that the manager of an establishment maintain both paper and electronic records documenting the environmental impact of the establishment’s activities. Any deviations from pollutant standards or specifications must be promptly reported to the Environmental Affairs Agency, along with details of corrective actions taken. Additionally, the establishment must annually report discharge rates and pollutant concentrations to the Agency. These amendments aim to enhance environmental governance, improve compliance, and promote sustainable practices across sectors.
In addition to these amended Regulations, three Annexes have been revised (i) Annex 1, which outlines the standards and specifications for liquid waste discharged into the aquatic environment; (ii) Annex 1 (bis), which provides guidelines for continuous self-monitoring of final discharge indicators for establishments; (iii) Annex 7, Table 3, which establishes the maximum permissible noise levels for different areas.