Belarus adopts a number of environmental protection rules

Sanitary rules regulating air quality for residential and recreational areas

As of 15 January 2017, organisations the activity of which impacts or may impact the ambient air of residential or recreational areas, are required to comply with the revised requirements aimed at the ambient air protection in residential and recreational areas. For example, the revised norms require organisations to regularly test air quality at the border of their sanitary protection zones and residential or recreational areas to ensure that their activity does not cause any exceedance of the maximum concentration of polluting substances in such residential or recreational areas. Such organisations are also required to ensure that their pollution abatement equipment is maintained in a good working order.

Law:  Decree No. 141 of 30 December 2016 on the Adoption of Sanitary Norms and Rules “Requirements for the Ambient Air of Residential and Recreational Areas”

Revised Rules on Drinking Water Protection

As of 23 January 2017 all organisations operating centralized drinking water supply networks or using water bodies used as drinking sources or impacting any sanitary protection zones of such bodies, are required to comply with the adopted revised rules. 

Law: Decree No. 142 of 30 December 2016 Adopting Sanitary Norms and Rules “Requirements for Setting-up Sanitary Protection Zones for Drinking Water Sources and Centralised Drinking Water Supply Systems” 

Revised Waste Management Rules

As of 15 January 2017 organisations performing collection, removal, storage, landfill, transportation or use of industrial or consumption wastes, are required to comply with the revised waste management rules. The Rules set out requirements for storage of different waste classes, for use of different types of wastes for certain purposes (e.g. for road construction), for waste landfill, transportation, etc. The Rules also impose occupational safety requirements for workers handling industrial and consumption wastes.

Law: Decree No. 143 of 30 December 2016 Adopting Sanitary Rules and Norms “Requirements for Handling Industrial and Consumption Wastes”