Federal Soil Protection Act. Country/Territory Germany Document type Legislation Date 1998 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Bundesgesetzblatt, Part I, No. 16, 24 March 1998, pp. 502-510. Long titleAct on protection against harmful changes to soil and on rehabilitation of contaminated sites. Subject Land & soil, Water Keyword Soil conservation/soil improvement Basic legislation Pollution control Soil pollution/quality Soil rehabilitation Groundwater Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution Geographical area Alps, Europe, EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA, European Union Countries, North Sea, North-East Atlantic, Western Europe Entry into force notes The Act comes into force on 1 March 1999 except for article 20 which enters into force on 25 March 1998. Abstract An Act for the protection and restoration of soil from wastes. It consists of 26 articles divided into 5 Parts. Part 1 contains the definition of certain terms such as, for example, "soil", "functions of the soil", "improvement of the soil, etc., as well as its scope of application. Furthermore, the text deals with the following matters: duty to avert damage to the soil, reduction of damage, adding to or removing materials from the soil, duty to take preventive measures, estimates of danger and inquiry orders. Part 4 establishes principles on sound agricultural use of soil. Full text English/German Website www.iuscomp.org