A unified system is set to replace individual permits for emissions, waste management, and special water use in Ukraine. Its implementation is part of the reform to prevent industrial pollution, so the Ministry of Economy is working on developing the legislative and regulatory framework for the next phase of the reform.
The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture provided an update on the current status of preparations.
The legislative basis for the new system is the Law “On Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution.” The document, which has already entered into force, implements the provisions of European Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions.
What steps have already been taken toward the unification of permits?
- The government has adopted all the necessary secondary regulatory legal acts, including 14 resolutions, 1 resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, and 3 ministerial orders;
- The system for issuing IEPs is already available on the “EcoSystema” platform;
- 14 reference documents relating to the implementation of best available techniques and management methods have already been translated, and agreements have been reached regarding the translation of the remaining informational materials.
It is already known that the Ministry of Economy has received the first application for an integrated environmental permit. The Ministry intends to use this experience, both in issuing IEPs and in digitizing processes, for the next stage of the reform, which will focus on the unification of permits for assets in the second and third groups.
“For business, this will mean simpler and more standardized procedures, less administrative burden, transparent and predictable operating rules, and gradual alignment with European approaches to environmental regulation,” said Minister of Economy Oleksii Sobolev.
All these processes are new for Ukraine, so the Ministry assures it wants to receive continuous feedback from all stakeholders – business, the state, and the public. To ensure this, an interdepartmental working group will be created.
EcoPolitic reported that the first application for an IEP in Ukraine was submitted by the Vinnytsia pulp production plant “Torgtekhnika.” The application alone consists of 126 pages.
The IEP is intended to replace three separate procedures relating to air emissions, waste management, and special water use. Another important change is that enterprises will have to obtain an IEP for each individual installation, rather than for an entire asset, as was previously the case.
EcoPolitic provided more detail about the IEP law provisions in an extensive article.
