Legislative Decree No. 195 implementing Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information.

This Legislative Decree sets forth the principles and conditions governing public access to environmental information held by public authorities. The Decree aims at ensuring transparency and promotes the use of computer telecommunication and electronic technology to guarantee such access to the public. For these purposes environmental information is defined as any information in written, visual, aural, electronic or any other material form on the state of the elements of the environment, such as air and atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites including wetlands, coastal and marine areas, biological diversity and its components, including genetically modified organisms, and the interaction among these elements. Article 5 specifies the circumstances under which the access to information may be denied.