The purpose of this law is the prevention, reduction and control of air pollution deriving mainly from industrial facilities, to better protect the health and welfare of the population and to protect and improve the environment, flora and fauna in the Republic. This law is the main instrument for controlling air pollution and replaces the Control of Atmospheric Pollution Laws (70/91 and 94(I)/92) which applied since 1993. Under this new law specific categories of industrial plants have to apply for a license to operate and must obtain permission for waste emission. The new industrial plants should ensure the permit before their entry into service, whether existing plants not holding a permit (‘Certificate of Registration Process’) based on the previous law (Control of Atmospheric Pollution Law 70/91) must apply to the Minister of Labor and Social Security within three months after the entry into force of this law. With respect to existing licensed facilities that have obtained a Certificate of Registration Process under the Law 70/91, they will continue to operate under the operating conditions imposed on them until the expiry of their certificate of registration. For obtaining a license, the operator of the facility must submit an application to the Minister of Labor and Social Security in a specific form accompanied by all required information. The Minister after consulting with the Technical Committee for the Protection of the Environment shall grant the permit under specific operating conditions to be observed during the operation of the facility. The Council of Ministers may issue regulations (article 9) to regulate any matter for the better implementation of the law. In particular, the regulations may provide for specific operating conditions for various categories of industrial plants for which the Minister, after consultation with the Technical Committee for Environmental Protection, may prescribe as necessary conditions for obtaining a permit. To monitor the implementation of this law the Minister may appoint a Chief Inspector and Inspectors and regulate how they will exercise the powers and perform their duties. The inspectors for the purposes of carrying out their duties may enter freely and without prior notice to any facility that is believed to carry out processes which may lead to a breach of any provision of the law. Also, they are authorized to carry out measurements and samplings.
Control of Atmospheric Pollution Law, 2002 (Law No. 187(Ι)/2002).