Law No. 4 of 1994 on Environment.

This Law consisting of 65 articles divided in IV Parts and 10 Annexes aims at protecting the environment (land, air and water) from pollution. To achieve the objective the Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) is established for the protection and promotion of the environment. Main tasks of the EEAA are: formulate the general policy and lay down plans for the protection and promotion of the environment and follow up their implementation; lay down a contingency plan to deal with environmental disasters; strengthen environmental relations between Egypt and other countries and regional and international organizations; prepare studies on the state of the environment; lay down the criteria to be observed before starting and during the operation of projects; lay down and follow up the rates necessary to ensure that permissible levels of pollutants are not exceeded; participate in the preparation and implementation of the national programme for environmental monitoring; publish periodic reports on the main environmental indicators; and prepare an annual report on the environmental situation to be submitted to the President of the Republic and the Cabinet. The Agency shall be managed by a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister of the Environment. It is also established in the Agency an Environment Protection Fund to the fulfilment of its objects.Protection of land environment from pollution. The Law regulates: licensing system for the establishment of plants, register rules to be observed by the owner of the establishment, expansions and renovations of existing establishments; details for the formulation of contingency plans; establishment of arboreta for the cultivation of trees in each district and in each village; hunting licenses; license system to displace hazardous substances and waste; permits to import or allow passage of ships carrying hazardous waste in territorial seas. The Law prohibits hunting, or catching the species of wild birds and animals specified in the Regulation, as well as to possess, transport, circulate with, sell such birds and animals either dead or alive. It is also forbidden to damage the nests or eggs of these birds.Protection of air environment from pollution. The executive regulations of this Law determines: the permissible levels of air pollutants and noise, the use of pesticides or any other chemical compound for agriculture, public health or other purpose in a manner that will not expose humans, animals, plants, waterways and other components of the environment, directly or indirectly, now or in future; treatment or burning garbage and solid waste except in special sites designated for such purpose; permissible limits of the level of radioactivity or concentration of radioactive substances in the air.Protection of water environment from pollution. This Law aims at protecting ports, coasts, territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone and their living or non-living natural resources from the risks of pollution in all its forms and shapes. The Law deals with: pollution from ships (oil pollution, pollution from sewage and garbage), procedures for the discharge of polluted waste water from ships and offshore platforms, pollution from land based sources, conditions for works which may affect the natural shoreline of the beach.

Implemented by: Decree No. 338 of 1995 issuing the Implementing Regulation of Environment Law No. 4 of 1994. (1995-02-18)
Amended by: Presidential Decree Law No.105 of 2015 amending some provisions of the Environmental Law No.4 of 1994. (2015-10-19)
Amended by: Environmental Law No.9 of 2009 amending some provisions of Law No.4 of 1994 on Environment. (2009-02-25)