Environmental Law No. 10/99. Country/Territory Sao Tome and Principe Document type Legislation Date 1999 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Environment gen., Water Keyword Framework law Basic legislation Ecosystem preservation Environmental planning Access-to-information Polluter pays principle Classification/declassification EIA Liability/compensation Policy/planning Freshwater pollution Sustainable use Pollution control Geographical area Africa, Central Africa, Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States Entry into force notes This Law enters into force according to legal terms. Abstract This Law is composed of six Chapters divided in 67 articles. It provides the basic legislation on environmental protection and sustainable development. It affirms the right to environment and lists the basic principles such as prevention and precaution, ecosystems’ carrying capacity, adequate management and use, participation and access-to-information, user-pays and polluter-pays. The Law defines objectives and measures to be implemented in the environmental policy. Moreover, it classifies environmental components, dividing natural components and human-originated components (i.e. landscape, pollution). It also defines the main tools and procedures to be used by environmental policy, as, for instance, a National Plan for Environment and Sustainable Development, Environmental Impact Assessment and environmental licensing. Finally, the Law defines citizens’ rights and obligations as well as offences and penalties. Full text Portuguese Website www.parlamento.st