Environmental Management (Registration and Practice of Environmental Experts) Regulations, 2021 (G.N. 267 of 2021).

These Regulations, consisting of 52 Articles, aim to (i) establish a system of registration, categorization, and practicing of environmental experts; (ii) provide for qualifications for persons who may conduct environmental studies; (iii) provide for a system of nurturing competence, knowledge, and consistency of environmental experts in the carrying out of environmental impact assessment and environmental audits; and (iv) provide for a code of conduct, discipline, and control of environmental experts. Article 5 establishes the Environmental Experts Advisory Committee with the main task of advising the Council on matters related to (i) registration, practice, and conduct of environmental experts; (ii) establishment, maintenance, and monitoring of professional standards for environmental practice; (iii) inquiry, investigation, and disciplinary action against professional misconduct by environmental experts as is necessary for ensuring the maintenance of professional standards, ethics, and integrity of environmental experts. The issues related to the registration of the experts are dealt with in Part IV of the Regulations and regard (i) responsibilities of the Registrar; (ii) categories of environmental experts; (iii) categories of firms of environmental experts; (iv) qualifications for registration of environmental experts and firm of environmental experts. Article 28 establishes that the environmental experts issued with practicing certificates shall be required to undergo continuous career development programs to enhance their knowledge and competence in environmental management issues.
The Regulations also deal with (i) matters related to the practicing certificate; (ii) practicing permits for foreign environmental experts and foreign firms of environmental experts; (iii) the Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics (in the Third Schedule); (iv) fees chargeable by environmental experts for professional services rendered; (v) access to information concerning the entries in the register of environmental experts.