Annual visa required for the validity of the Environmental Permits and Integrated Environmental Authorizations

Romania

Following amendments to the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 195/2005 on environmental protection, holders of Environmental Permits ("EP") / Integrated Environmental Authorisations ("IEA") will be required to obtain an annual visa as a validity condition of the respective authorisations.

Prior to this legislative change, the EP was valid for 5 years and the IEA was valid for 10 years.

The beneficiaries of an EP / IEA must apply for the visa on an annual basis and the competent environmental authority decides on the outcome of the application following a site visit. If inconsistencies are found during the site visit, the holders of the EP / IEA have a 30 day remediation period.

EPs and IEAs for which an annual visa has not been obtained will cease to have legal effects and the respective beneficiaries will be required to restart the authorization obtaining procedure.

For more information on this law, please contact Varinia Radu or Ramona Dulamea.