Ministerial Decision No.48/2017 issuing the Regulations for Organizing Environmental Permitting.

This Regulation consisting of 13 articles and 3 Annexes aims at regulating the issuance of environmental permits by the competent Authority at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, including the permission given to the owner to practice a certain activity after ensuring its environmental safety. The activities considered by these regulations are classified into three different categories according to the materials used in production, production capacity and the degree of their impact on the environment. In applying for the environmental permit, it is not needed an environmental impact assessment study if the project is to be established in industrial estates managed by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, free zones and industrial ports (category B). To apply for an environmental permit for an establishment, the owner has to to designate a safe area surrounding the proposed site. After granting the environmental permit, the Ministry may require the owner to conduct an Environmental Audit regarding areas of work. Special rules are given for environmental permit for mining activities.