State control in the field of environmental protection is revised

The experts of the Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister convened the first meeting of the Working Group No. 4 on environmental control reform. The meeting was attended by representatives of the State Chancellery, the Ministry of Environment, the Inspectorate for Environmental Protection (IPM), the business community and other stakeholders.

The participants are to review the regulatory framework with a view to improving the situation, as provided for by Government Order 108-d of 25 July 2023. It was also mentioned during the meeting that the regulatory framework provides for rules that make it possible to duplicate the control functions of the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Local Public Administration in the timber products transport compartment.

The IPM and Mai are responsible for checking the documents of origin in the process of transporting timber products from the place of harvesting or storage. It is also mentioned that the control over the provision and implementation of forest protection measures by the owners and managers of forest land is exercised by both the Environmental Protection Inspectorate and the local public administration authorities. It is recommended that the regulatory framework be adjusted to eliminate the duplication in question. Another duplication of control powers concerns waste management.

According to national legislation the territorial environmental authorities inspect and take measures to ensure that those involved in waste management comply with environmental legislation and permit conditions established by law. However, the National Agency for Public Health is required to carry out “departmental monitoring” of the requirements for the management of waste from medical activities. It is recommended that the regulatory framework be adjusted to eliminate the duplication in question. These and other problems have largely been identified by business associations.

Proposals to address them are largely based on practices and principles promoted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, including mechanisms and principles for state control of entrepreneurial activity that currently exist in Moldova. The reform of the system of state control over entrepreneurial activity is planned for 2023-2024 and is being promoted with the support of the business community, members of the Economic Council, representatives of state institutions and donor organisations.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund, and the International Finance Corporation’s Investment Climate Reform Project funded by the Government of Sweden’s International Development Agency

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund.