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Search Global Air Quality Laws
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UN regional group
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Year
Ambient Air Quality Standards
- In a legislative or legislatively empowered instrument
Responsibility for air quality standards
- National government
- State/provincial government
- Local government
- Shared responsibility
Indoor Air Quality Standards
- Yes
Type of instrument
- Primary legislation
- Other primary legislation
- Secondary legislation
- Policy linked to the legislative framework
- More than one
Nature of legal obligations
- Duty to meet AAQS (Binding legislative obligation on the state)
- Duty to take BPM to meet standard
- Escalating duty to take action (if AQ worsens)
- Duty to report to public authority
- Duty to plan for achieving AAQS
- Emergency planning requirements for dangerous AQ levels
Exceedances
- Generally allowed exceedances
- Other allowed exceedances (emergency reasons/natural events)
Compliance with WHO Air Quality Guidelines (2005)
-
PM2.5 (10 μg/m3 annual mean 25 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- PM10 (50 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- Ozone (100 μg/m3 8-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- NO2 (40 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- NO2 (200 μg/m3 1-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- SO2 (20 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- SO2 (500 μg/m3 10-minute mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- Newly acknowledged pollutants
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.Legal requirement to monitor
Procedural and substantive rights
- Public right to air quality data (including general right to environmental information)
- Legal right to participate in setting AAQS in legislation
- Legal right to participate in devising air quality plans or actions in legislation
- Legal rights of access to justice (linked directly to air quality framework)
Legal coordination of policy to achieve AAQS
- Legal link between air quality standards and decision-making on projects
- Legally mandated policy coordination for air quality
Enforcement mechanisms
- Criminal
- Civil
- Administrative
- Bespoke enforcement mechanism
- Multi-level governance mechanism (eg EU Commission)
Provisions for transboundary air pollution
- Yes
Showing 41 - 50 of 60 resultsDecree-Law No. 102/2010 establishing the regime for the assessment and management of ambient air quality,| 2010 |Legislation
PortugalThis Decree-Law is composed of seven chapters divided into 45 articles and 21 Annexes. It regulates air quality management and introduces in the national legislation EU Directive No. 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 21 May, and EU Directive No. 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 December on air quality. The Decree-Law thoroughly regulates air...
KeywordsAir quality, Particulate matter, PM10, Ambient air, Legislation, Nitrogen monoxide, Air quality monitoring, Air pollution, PM2.5, Concentrations, Compliance, Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Sulphur dioxideAmbient Air Quality Regulations (L.N. 478 of 2010).| 2010 |Regulation
MaltaThese Regulations implement Directive 2004/107/EC relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury and nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air and Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.
KeywordsAir quality monitoring, Legislation, Ambient air, Concentrations, Monitoring stations, Air quality, Zoning, Concentration-based standards, Pollutants, Ozone, Future standards, Zones, Agglomerations, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen dioxide, Allowed exceedances, Data quality, Air pollution, Air quality modelling, Benzo(a)pyrene, Compliance, Particulate matter, Alert thresholds, Benzene, Industrial sources, Sulphur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Elemental carbon, Air quality plans, Ambient air pollution, Monitoring data, Nitrogen monoxide, Organic carbon, Point source emissions, Best available techniques, Mobile point sources, Volatile organic compounds, Vulnerable groupsArrêté du Gouvernement wallon relatif à l'évaluation et la gestion de la qualité de l'air ambiant.| 2010 |Regulation
BelgiumLe présent arrêté a pour objectifs d'organiser l'évaluation et la gestion de la qualité de l'air ambiant en vue de: 1) définir et fixer des objectifs concernant la qualité de l'air ambiant afin d'éviter, de prévenir ou de réduire les effets nocifs pour la santé humaine et pour l'environnement dans son ensemble; 2) évaluer la qualité de l'air ambiant sur la base de méthodes et de critères communs...
KeywordsZoning, Zones, Concentrations, Agglomerations, PM2.5, Benzo(a)pyrene, PM10, Benzene, Air pollution, Industrial sources, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Methane, Nitrogen monoxideCabinet Regulation No. 1290 on Ambient Air Quality| 2009 |Regulation
LatviaThe Regulation prescribes quality standards for outdoor air in the troposphere (excluding workplaces) in the territory of Latvia, as well as deadlines for ensuring of ambient air quality standards; permissible level of air pollutants in the environment and characteristic values thereof; parameters, monitoring methods and methods which are used in order to determine exceedance of the relevant...
KeywordsConcentrations, Legislation, Air quality monitoring, Air quality, Concentration-based standards, Ambient air, Monitoring stations, Air quality standards, Ambient air quality standards, Zoning, Pollutants, Future standards, Agglomerations, Particulate matter, Zones, PM10, Air pollution, Ozone, Alert thresholds, Nitrogen dioxide, Allowed exceedances, Benzo(a)pyrene, Compliance, PM2.5, Ambient air pollution, Benzene, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Sulphur dioxide, Air quality modelling, Carbon monoxide, Data quality, Nitrogen oxides, Vulnerable groups, Access to information, Industrial sources, Nitrogen monoxide, Elemental carbon, Monitoring data, Volatile organic compoundsAir Pollution Control Regulations.| 2009 |Regulation
AndorraThe purpose of this text is, as per its Chapter one, to regulate the activities and situations that produce air pollution; to establish, regulate and control potentially polluting activities in the atmosphere; to define and set air quality objectives and methods for informing the public; to determine tools and mechanisms to monitor and correct air pollution situations. Air pollution is to be...
KeywordsAir pollution, Concentration-based standards, Zones, Zoning, Legislation, Air quality monitoring, Air quality, Inspection, Public health, Concentrations, Air quality standards, Particulate matter, PM10, Nitrogen monoxide, PM2.5Décret nº 2-09-286 fixant les normes de qualité de l'air et les modalités de surveillance de l'air.| 2009 |Regulation
MoroccoLe présent décret a pour objet de fixer les normes de qualité de l'air et de définir les modalités de mise en place des réseaux de surveillance de la qualité de l'air telles que prévues aux articles 3, 4 et 24 de la loi n° 13-03. qui vise la prévention et la lutte contre les émissions de polluants atmosphériques susceptibles de porter atteinte à la santé de l'homme, à la faune, au sol, au climat...
KeywordsAir pollution, Concentrations, Agglomerations, Benzene, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Zones, Zoning, OzoneClean Air Ordinance.| 2008 |Regulation
LiechtensteinThe present Ordinance implements the Environment Protection Act of 29 May 2008. In particular, the Ordinance shall protect human beings, animals, plants and their organized communities, as well as the soil against harmful and annoying air pollution. Moreover, the Ordinance shall reduce green house gas emissions. The text consists of 34 articles divided into 5 Parts as follows: General provisions...
KeywordsAir pollution, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, PM10, PM2.5, Benzene, Zones, Zoning, Sulphur dioxide, Sulphur oxidesEnvironment Management (Waste Disposal and Recycling) Regulations 2007 (LN 2 of 2008).| 2008 |Regulation
FijiThese Regulations lay down requirements for permits for solid and liquid waste, livestock waste and air pollution permit. Parts 4 and 5 set out rules on air quality standards, monitoring of air quality, compliance with standards, air pollution management plans and control over emissions to air from certain activities. Division B addresses waste recycling of batteries and plastic bottles, and the...
KeywordsPermitting, Air pollution, Industrial sources, Legislation, Compliance, Air quality standards, Air quality, Air quality monitoring, Zoning, Inspection, Pollutants, Monitoring stations, Zones, Burning, Concentrations, Ambient air quality standards, Concentration-based standards, Public healthAir Quality (Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air) Regulations, 2007 (P.I. 111/2007).| 2007 |Regulation
CyprusThe objectives of this Directive shall be to: (a) establish a target value for the concentration of arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene in ambient air so as to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects of arsenic, cadmium, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on human health and the environment as a whole; (b) ensure, with respect to arsenic, cadmium, nickel and polycyclic aromatic...
KeywordsPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Ambient air, Air quality, Concentrations, Legislation, Future standards, Benzo(a)pyreneRegulation on emissions of volatile organic compounds.| 2005 |Regulation
Bosnia and HerzegovinaThis Regulation defines the necessary measures and procedures for preventing or reducing the direct or indirect consequences of emissions of volatile organic compounds in the environment (particularly for air emissions) and in order to reduce the concrete or potential risk to human health (on the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina). The Annex is an integral part of this...
KeywordsIndustrial sources, Legislation, Best available techniques, Air quality monitoring, Air pollution, Volatile organic compoundsPagination
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)