Decree-Law No. 56/2012 approving the structure of the Portuguese Environment Agency (IP).

This Decree-Law, consisting of 18 articles, creates the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA IP) as a public institution, with administrative and financial autonomy. APA IP, is responsible for the tasks of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning, under the supervision of the respective ministers. It establishes composition, duties and responsibilities of the APA IP, which is entitled to propose, develop and monitor the integrated management and subsidiary of environmental policies and sustainable development, in coordination with other sectoral policies and with public and private entities that work for the same purpose. The duties of the APA IP, aim at implementing environmentally sustainable policy as follows: proposing, developing and monitoring the implementation of environmental policies, particularly in the context of fighting climate change, water management, waste, protection of the ozone layer and air quality standards, recovery and enhancement of soil and other contaminated areas, the integrated prevention and control of pollution, noise, major industrial risks, environmental safety, ecological labelling, environmental management systems, as well as the environmental impact assessment of plans and programs, etc.