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Environmental rules - Hungary

Updated 01/2011

Legal requirements

After joining the EU, Hungary redrafted nearly all of its environmental protection legislation. Since July 2010, the Ministry of Rural Development has been responsible for environmental protection, but subject-specific materials can be found on the website of the former Ministry for the Environment and Water.

  • Ministry of Rural Development
  • Act on the General Environmental Protection Rules magyar
  • Act on Emissions Trading of Greenhouse Gases magyar
  • Decree on the Emission of Greenhouse Gases magyar

Environmental control

The following pages provide information about environmental control and basic recordkeeping:

  • Obligation for an environmental assessment (based on Directive 2001/42/EC) pdf [33 KB] magyar
  • Decree on Basic Environmental Recordkeeping magyar
  • Guide to completing the forms necessary for basic environmental recordkeeping pdf [592 KB] magyar

Land development

As a result of its incorporation into the European Union's land development system, Hungary applies the basic European principles and legal system and has access to European Union resources.

  • Act on Land Development and Land Management magyar
  • Act on the Association of Local Governments for Towns as Subregions magyar

Waste management

The Waste Management Act lays down obligations for records to be kept and data to be provided by all producers, owners and treaters of waste that come under its scope. The methods, content and deadlines for fulfilling the obligations are regulated in more detail by the Decree on Record-Keeping and Data Provision Obligations Relating to Waste.

  • Waste Management Act magyar
  • Decree on Record-Keeping and Data Provision Obligations Relating to Waste magyar

Chemicals

In Hungarian law, chemicals are regulated by Act XXV of 2000 on Chemical Safety, which is supplemented by regulations for individual sectors. Significant changes have recently been made by the REACH Regulation, which regulates the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals and applies directly to Member States of the EU, and by the Regulation containing new rules for the classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) of chemical substances.

Water

The legal basis for national programmes created in the areas of improving the quality of drinking water and removing and cleaning waste water has been formed by amending the Water Management Act.

  • Water Management Act magyar
  • Decree on the Protection of Surface Water Quality magyar
  • Decree on the Protection of Groundwater magyar

Climate and air

The framework for the protection of clean air is defined by the Government Decree on the Clean Air Protection Regulations. Owing to the cross-border impact, the protection of air quality requires cooperation with international organisations that include countries both inside and outside the European Union.

  • Decree on the Study, Monitoring and Evaluation of Air Pollution magyar

Noise protection

The following Decree relates to protection from environmental noise and vibrations:

  • Decree on the Rules concerning Protection from Environmental Noise and Vibrations magyar

Nuclear protection

The agreement adopted in 1979 by the International Atomic Energy Agency relates to nuclear protection.

Inspections

The supervisory body of the National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water is the Ministry of Rural Development. The organisation has jurisdiction as the environment, nature and water authority defined in law.

The State Public Health and Medical Officer's Service has primary responsibility for monitoring the manufacture and distribution of chemical substances.

Businesses are free to go beyond the minimum environmental legal requirements at their own initiative.

Administrative procedures

Declaratory procedures

Land development

The National Area Development and Area Planning Information System (TeIR) ensures that the system for publishing mandatory data works.

  • National Area Development and Area Planning Information System magyar

A building that has been built with planning permission may be taken into use if it is suitable for proper, safe use and has an occupancy licence. If there is no occupancy licence, the building may not be used.

  • Act on the Formation and Protection of the Built Environment magyar

Waste management

Since July 2010, the Ministry of Rural Development has been responsible for environmental protection, but subject-specific materials can for the time being be found on the website of the former Ministry for the Environment and Water. Information relating to waste reporting may be found on the former Ministry for the Environment and Water website:

  • Guide to fulfilling data provision obligations relating to waste magyar

In the case of chemicals, companies must register under the REACH Regulation.

  • Companies' registration obligation magyar

Reports under the provisions of the Act on the Chemical Safety of Hazardous Substances and Mixtures are received by the National Institute of Chemical Safety. The Institute also acts as the poison control authority.

Activities carried out using hazardous chemicals and mixtures must be reported to the subregional institutions of the State Public Health and Medical Officer's Service (ÁNTSZ).

  • Reporting activities carried out with chemicals magyar
  • Environmental protection product tariff magyar
  • Information on submission applications for import, export and re-export licences for industrial explosives for civilian use magyar
  • Hungarian Trade Licensing Office magyar

During the "transitional period" planned until 2013, the marketing of biocidal products is regulated by the national laws currently in force in the Member States. Following this period, regulation will be at Community level.

  • Transitional regulation in Hungary magyar

Water

The Damage Clearance subsystem of the Environmental Register System of Groundwater and Geological Medium (FAVI) contains the necessary forms for taking sources of pollution, polluted areas damage clearance into consideration nationally.

  • Damage Clearance subsystem of the Environmental Register System of Groundwater and Geological Medium (FAVI) magyar

Climate and air

The operation and development of the Hungarian Air Quality Network allows data to be collected relating to good levels of air pollution.

Nuclear protection

In Hungary, the Act on Disaster Prevention regulates the organisations that participate in avoiding nuclear accidents, as well as their tasks.

  • Disasters Act magyar

Permits and licences

Facilities in Hungary that have an impact on the environment can only operate if they hold an integrated environmental permit, as per the EU directive on integrated pollution prevention and control.

  • Information on the integrated prevention and reduction of pollution magyar

Before starting activities that may have a significant impact on the environment, an environmental impact study must be conducted.

  • Environmental impact studies magyar
  • Registration of manufacturers magyar
  • Documents and guides relating to transportation of waste magyar

Land development

The authorisation of land development falls under the local public administration procedures, so the local government of the town in question, and the construction, environment and land development department or construction and environment department of the town hall must always be consulted.

Waste management

Registration of chemicals must be submitted to the European Chemicals Agency in the form and manner laid down by the REACH Regulation. According to the REACH Regulation, substances for which a licence is required must also have applications submitted to the European Chemicals Agency for individual user licences.

The National Institute of Chemical Safety performs the Member State supervisory procedures for biocidal active substances in Hungary.

There is no submission deadline with regard to the export of waste, but it is recommended that the reporting form be submitted to the National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water at least 60 days before the commencement of activities.

The administration time from the date of submission of the application is approximately 45-60 days.

  • National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water magyar

For the import or transit of waste, the licence application (report form, accompanying documentation and annexes) must be submitted to the competent authority for the (receiving) country for which the consignment is destined.

Climate and air

Since 1 January 2005, the largest industrial consumers in Hungary may only emit carbon dioxide as a result of their activities if they are in possession of an emissions licence.

  • Basic reporting of clean air protection for local sources of air pollution magyar

Noise protection

The licensing plan must define the measures and requirements that must be complied with when preparing the export plan, for example in relation to individual noise emission requirements for sources of noise, the anticipated technical measures necessary to reduce noise, or sources of industrial or leisure noise.

  • Provisions relating to the generation of construction noise and vibrations magyar

Inspections

Land development

The authorisation of land development falls under the local public administration procedures, so the construction, environment and land development department or construction and environment department of the local government of the town in question, or of the town hall, will always perform monitoring.

Waste management

Monitoring of the import, export and transit of waste consignments entering and leaving the European Communities through Hungary is primarily carried out by the National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water (OKTV), the police, the customs authority, and, in the case of road and rail transportation, the traffic authority and rail authority, while in the case of transportation of hazardous waste by road the monitoring is carried out by the National Directorate General for Disaster Management and its regional bodies in collaboration.

  • National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water magyar
  • National Directorate General for Disaster Management magyar

Chemicals

The State Public Health and Medical Officer's Service has primary responsibility for monitoring the manufacture and distribution of chemical substances.

The Hungarian Labour Inspectorate monitors health and safety aspects of the manufacture and use of chemicals. After material is turned into waste, monitoring falls under the duties of the Environmental Inspectorates.

  • Environmental Protection Industry Information System magyar

Water

The regulations provided by the Water Framework Directive are a new approach to water conservation.

Climate and air

The Hungarian Air Quality Network monitors air pollution data and continuously reviews air pollution limits.

Noise protection

Information on the monitoring of provisions relating to the generation of construction noise and vibrations may be found in the following Decree:

  • Decree on the Rules concerning Protection from Environmental Noise and Vibrations magyar

Resources

Since July 2010, the Ministry of Rural Development has been responsible for environmental protection, but subject-specific materials can be found on the website of the former Ministry for the Environment and Water. The website of the former Ministry for the Environment and Water contains information on waste management permits.

The database of the Environmental Protection Industry Information System has contact information for all environmental authorities.

  • Environmental Protection Industry Information System magyar

Environmental protection information for businesses:

Information can be found on the website of the National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water:

Programmes

The Environment and Energy Operational Programme supports the implementation of 'sustainable use of the environment' in the New Hungary Development Plan.

The New Széchenyi Plan pays particular attention to green economic development and the challenges of the 21st century, such as how a country can handle the problems arising from a usage structure based on fossil (non-renewable) forms of energy, by means of energy savings, energy efficiency, energy security and renewable sources of energy.

The aim of the National Environmental Damage Clearance Programme is to locate pollution and damage in soil and groundwater, then reduce or eliminate it.

The main aim of the KEXPORT programme is to promote export activities by Hungarian enterprises engaged in innovative products and services.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • Act XLVI of 2008 on the Food Chain and Supervision by the Authorities - Hungarian Official Journal 2008/95 (28 June 2008) magyar
    • Act LXII of 2008 Publishing Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, Adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1979 and Published by Legal Decree 8 of 1987, Signed on 8 July 2005 at the Diplomatic Conference Organised by the IAEA - Hungarian Official Journal 2008/155 (31 October 2008)
    • Act LX of 2007 on the Implementation Framework for the UN Climate Change Framework Agreement and its Kyoto Protocol - Hungarian Official Journal 2007/73 (12 June 2007) magyar
    • Act CVII of 2004 on the Association of Local Governments for Towns as Subregions for Multiple Purposes - Hungarian Official Journal 2004/172 (18 November 2004) magyar
    • Act LXXXIX of 2003 on Environmental Pollution Charges - Hungarian Official Journal 2003/131 (14 November 2003) magyar
    • Act XLIII of 2000 on Waste Management - Hungarian Official Journal 2000/53 (2 June 2000) magyar
    • Act XXV of 2000 on Chemical Safety - Hungarian Official Journal 2000/38 (26 April 2000) magyar
    • Act LXIX of 1999 on Regulation Infringements - Hungarian Official Journal 1999/57 (28 June 1999) magyar
    • Act CLV of 1997 on Consumer Protection - Hungarian Official Journal 1997/119 (23 December 1997) magyar
    • Act CLIV of 1997 on Healthcare - Hungarian Official Journal 1997/119 (23 December 1997) magyar
    • Act LXXVIII of 1997 on the Formation and Protection of the Built Environment - Hungarian Official Journal 1997/67 (24 July 1997) magyar
    • Act LIII of 1996 on Nature Conservation - Hungarian Official Journal 1996/53 (3 July 1996) magyar
    • Act XXI of 1996 on Land Development and Land Management - Hungarian Official Journal 1996/26 (5 April 1996) magyar
    • Act LIII of 1995 on the General Environmental Protection Rules - Hungarian Official Journal 1995/52 (22 June 1995) magyar
    • Act LVI of 1995 on Environmental Product Charges, and on Environmental Product Charges on Certain Products - Hungarian Official Journal 1995/53 (23 June 1995) magyar
    • Act LVII of 1995 on Water Management - Hungarian Official Journal 1995/53 (23 June 1995) magyar
    • Government Decree 123/2009 (12 June 2009) on Detailed Rules for Reporting Procedures Relating to the Export or Import of Certain Hazardous Substances and Preparations - Hungarian Official Journal 2009/79 (12 June 2009) magyar
    • Government Decree 13/2008 (30 January 2008) Publishing the National Allocation Plan for 2008-2012, and on Detailed Rules for the Allocation of Emission Units - Hungarian Official Journal 2008/14 (30 January 2008) magyar
    • Government Decree 14/2008 (30 January 2008) Amending Government Decree 213/2006 (27 October 2006) on Certain Rules for Implementing Act XV of 2005 on Emissions Trading of Greenhouse Gases - Hungarian Official Journal 2008/14 (30 January 2008) magyar
    • Government Decree 224/2008 (9 September 2008) on Detailed Rules for Application of the Chemical Pollution Fine - Hungarian Official Journal 2008/130 (9 September 2008) magyar
    • Government Decree 90/2007 (26 April 2007) on the Prevention and Elimination of Environmental Damage - Hungarian Official Journal 2007/53 (26 April 2007) magyar
    • Government Decree 180/2007 (3 July 2007) on Cross-Border Waste Management - Hungarian Official Journal 2007/87 (3 July 2007) magyar
    • Government Decree 323/2007 (11 December 2007) on Certain Rules for the Implementation of Act LX of 2007 on the Implementation Framework for the UN Climate Change Framework Agreement and its Kyoto Protocol - Hungarian Official Journal 2007/172 (11 December 2007) magyar
    • Government Decree 284/2007 (29 October 2007) on the Rules concerning Protection from Environmental Noise and Vibrations - Hungarian Official Journal 2007/146 (29 October 2007) magyar
    • Government Decree 314/2005 (25 December 2005) on Environmental Impact Studies and Integrated Environment Use Permits - Hungarian Official Journal 2005/168 (25 December 2005) magyar
    • Government Decree 219/2004 (21 July 2004) on the Protection of Groundwater - Hungarian Official Journal 2004/102 (21 July 2004) magyar
    • Government Decree 220/2004 (21 July 2004) on the Protection of Surface Water Quality - Hungarian Official Journal 2004/102 (21 July 2004) magyar
    • Government Decree 164/2003 (18 October 2003) on Record-Keeping and Data Provision Obligations Relating to Waste - Hungarian Official Journal 2003/119 (18 October 2003) magyar
    • Government Decree 21/2001 (14 February 2001) on the Clean Air Protection Regulations - Hungarian Official Journal 2001/16 (14 February 2001) pdf [613 KB] magyar
    • Joint Decree 38/2003 (7 July 2003) of the Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Environment and Water on the Conditions for Manufacturing and Distributing Biocidal Products - Hungarian Official Journal 2003/80 (7 July 2003) magyar
    • Ministry of Environment Decree 17/2001 (3 August 2001) on the Rules for the Study, Monitoring and Evaluation of Air Pollution and Emissions from Local Sources of Air Pollution - Hungarian Official Journal 2001/87 (3 August 2001) magyar

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Further help

The local public administration authorities, the local government for the town in question, and the construction, environment and land development departments of the town hall can provide assistance.

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