Parliament adopted changes to Clean Air Act at first reading

MPs have increased the requirements on the quality of solid fuels used for domestic heating - mainly coal and briquettes. This was voted by the Parliament with the amendments to the Clean Air Act at first reading on 16th of November.

There will be control over their release for sale on the market, storage and distribution. The law aims for better quality of the fuel on the market, the authors of the draft said.

In addition, the law provides for fines for any mayor who does not achieve reduction in air pollution norms or fails to achieve reduction in average annual pollution. The size of the fine will be between 5,000 to 10,000 BGN. In case of a second violation, the fine will be double.

The law also sets out that whoever distributes solid fuels for domestic heating without registration or in an place not registered in the register, shall be liable to a fine of BGN 1,000 to BGN 10,000, respectively a proprietary sanction of BGN 10,000 to BGN 50,000.

Mayor of a municipality for which assessment has shown that there is no reduction of the registered number of exceedances of the harmful substances norms and/or of the average annual pollutant levels, shall be sanctioned with a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 BGN.