Basic Legal Acts

 

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland [PL] of 2 April 1997, one of the basic features of the Polish State is to protect the environment, based on the principle of sustainable development. For the purposes of environmental protection, the Constitution requires public authorities to:

  • conduct policies1 ensuring the ecological security of current and future generations,
  • protect the environment,
  • support the activities of citizens to protect and improve the environment.

It also grants to every natural and legal person, regardless of their nationality or country of origin, the right to information about the state of environmental protection.

At the same time, the Constitution requires everyone to:

  • care for the environment,
  • assume responsibility for causing deterioration of the environment.

Detailed regulations in the above area are determined by acts and implementing regulations2. They take into account the requirements arising from EU directives and international conventions.

1 Current policy ”State Environmental Policy in 2009-2012 with a view to the year 2016 [PL]” (adopted by Resolution of the Polish Sejm on 22 May 2009).
2 Sources of universally binding laws of the Republic of Poland are: The Constitution, acts, ratified international agreements and regulations, as well as acts of local law - in the area of operations of ??the bodies which established them.

Important Polish legal acts concerning the protection of the environment include:

Act of 27 April 2001 Environmental Protection Law [PL]. The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 3 October 2008 on providing information on the environment and environment protection, public participation in environmental protection and on environmental impact assessment1. The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 13 April 2007 on preventing damages to the environment and their repair [PL]. The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 16 April 2004 on the protection of nature [PL]. The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 28 September 1991 on forests1 The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 3 February 1995 on the protection of agricultural land and forest [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 17 July 2009 on the management system for greenhouse gas emissions and other substances [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 18 December 2003 on plant protection [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 21 August 1997 on the protection of animals [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 22 June 2001 on genetically modified organisms [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 6 July 2001 on the conservation of the national character of the country's strategic natural resources [PL]  
Act of February 4, 1994 - Geological and Mining Law [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 29 November 2000 Atomic Law [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 27 April 2001 on waste [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 11 May 2001 on packaging and packaging waste [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 11 May 2001 on obligations of entrepreneurs in the management of certain wastes and on the product and deposit charges [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 29 June 2007 on the international shipment of waste [PL]. The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 29 July 2005 on waste electrical and electronic equipment [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 24 April 2009 on batteries and accumulators [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 20 January 2005 on the recycling end of life vehicles [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 10 July 2008 on extractive waste [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 22 December 2004 on emissions trading for greenhouse gases and other substances [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 18 September 2001 Maritime Code [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 18 July 2001 Water Law [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 13 October 1995 Hunting Law [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 19 February 2004 on Fishing [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 25 June 2009 on organic farming [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 25 August 2006 on food safety and nutrition [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Art. 92 of the Act of 06 September 2001 on road transport [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 18 April 1985 on inland fishery [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 21 December 2000 on the inland waterway [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 16 March 1995 on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 7 June 2001 on forest reproductive material [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 10 July 2007 on fertilizers and fertilization [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 19 June 1997 on ban of all products containing asbestos [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 11 January 2001 on chemical substances and preparations [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 25 August 2006 on biocomponents and liquid biofuels [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 20 April 2004 on substances that deplete the ozone layer [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 20 July 1991 on Inspectorate for Environmental Protection [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 13 September 1996 on maintaining cleanliness and order in municipalities [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 15 July 2011 on the National Eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) [PL]  
Act of 27 March 2003 on spatial planning and development [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]
Act of 7 July 1994 Construction Law [PL] The existing implementing legislation [PL]

 

All of the above links to acts and implementing legislation (regulations) connect to the legal texts available on the websites of Sejm of the Republic of Poland [PL].

The current status of legislative works in the field of environmental protection is presented on the website of the Ministry of the Environment. The website also includes comments to the legal provisions.

1. This publication does not constitute a source of law. According to the Act of 20 July 2000 on the promulgation of acts of law and some other acts (Journal of Laws of 2007 No. 68, item 449), the only sources of law in the Republic of Poland are acts of law announced and published in the Journal of Laws and the Polish Monitor.