Law on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
Regulates integrated permits for covered industrial installations and joint control of air, water, land and waste impacts. The new 2026 law concerns operators and the interested public checking operating conditions.
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Environment / industrial installations / integrated permits
Serbia’s Law on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulates integrated permits for industrial installations and activities falling within its scope. It considers emissions to air, water and land, waste and other relevant effects together rather than examining only one pollution pathway. Best available techniques and permit conditions connect technology, prevention, monitoring and operator responsibility. Coverage must be checked against the particular installation and activity.
The competent national, provincial or local authority handles the procedure under the statutory allocation of tasks. Operators submit documentation and comply with the issued permit; inspection supervises duties within its remit. An integrated permit and a project environmental impact assessment have different purposes and procedures. A permit does not remove other environmental, water or construction obligations, or show that every observed release is permitted. The conditions and measurements must be examined for the specific case.
The interested public can follow permit proceedings and participate as provided by law. Identify the responsible authority, specific application, public notice and documentation. Connect comments to the location, technology, emissions, monitoring and proposed conditions. For an operating installation, request its permit, measurement and supervision information; document facts when reporting a suspected breach. Information requests, procedural comments and legal challenges to a decision have different requirements. The facility’s name alone does not determine whether an integrated permit is mandatory.
The new law was published in Official Gazette 63/2026 on 10 July 2026 and takes effect on the eighth day after publication. It replaces 135/2004, 25/2015 and 109/2021. Article 49 preserves existing permits until expiry and earlier rules for pending proceedings; implementing regulations remain where consistent with the new law. Under Article 52, the Article 34 provision concerning technical commission costs applies after two years. The ministry’s older consolidated text is not the current source for this new law; use the adopted parliamentary text.
This is Avangarda’s informative editorial overview and translation, not an official translation. For a particular case, check the current law through the official source, relevant implementing rules and individual decisions, and seek qualified legal help where needed. This overview does not replace the legislation or a competent authority’s decision.
What is this for?
Helps read integrated permits, understand best available techniques, and check public participation and monitoring.
Who can use it?
Operators of covered installations, residents, associations, specialists and authorities; the law does not cover every pollution source.
When should it be used?
When examining an industrial installation, participating in a permit consultation, tracking emissions or reporting suspected breaches.