Article 3 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 3 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article bars anyone from carrying out environmental activities or activities with an environmental impact except after obtaining a permit or license, as the regulations determine.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لأي شخص ممارسة أي من الأنشطة البيئية أو التي لها أثر بيئي؛ إلا بعد الحصول على تصريح أو ترخيص؛ وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللوائح.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 3 explained in plain English
This article is the basic rule of the Environment Law: no person may carry out an environmental activity or an activity with an environmental impact unless he first obtains a permit or license.
To understand it we return to the definitions in Article 1:
- Person includes an individual, a company, and a public or private body.
- An environmental activity is any operational or technical activity related to the environment sector, and a license is granted for it.
- Environmental impact is any negative or positive change affecting the environment as a result of any activity, and a permit is the document granted before starting the activity that has an environmental impact.
The article does not itself list the activities or the procedures for obtaining a permit or license, but refers this to the Implementing Regulations; so the owner of an activity should refer to them and to the competent authority to know whether his activity needs a permit or a license and what its conditions are.
After obtaining the permit or license, obligations do not end, as Article 4 requires the permit holder and license holder to comply with the provisions of the Law and regulations, the conditions of the permit or license, and the instructions and decisions of the competent authority. This rule applies the aim of regulating the environment sector stated in Article 2. If you are unsure of the status of your activity, you can consult a lawyer specialized in environmental laws.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh plans to open a factory that may give off emissions. Before starting operation, it must check the Implementing Regulations and the competent authority to learn which type of document is required, and obtain the permit or license first, because Article 3 bars carrying out the activity before that.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 3 of the Saudi Environment Law
May I start an activity with an environmental impact and get the permit later?
No. The article bars carrying out the activity except after obtaining the permit or license, and a permit, by its definition, is granted before starting the activity.
Which activities need an environmental permit or license?
The article covers environmental activities and activities with an environmental impact, and refers the details to the Implementing Regulations.
Does the article apply to individuals or only to companies?
It applies to any person, and "person" in Article 1 includes individuals and public and private legal entities.
More articles on Environmental Permits and Licenses
- Article 1
The article defines the terms used in the Environment Law, such as the competent authority, permit, license, environmental impact, wild organisms and vegetation cover lands.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتض السياق غير ذلك: النظام: نظام البيئة. اللوائح: اللوائح التنفيذ
- Article 2
The article states the aims of the Environment Law: protecting, developing and sustaining the environment, complying with environmental principles, and regulating the environment sector and its activities and services.
يهدف النظام إلى حماية البيئة وتنميتها واستدامتها، والالتزام بالمبادئ البيئية، وتنظيم قطاع البيئة والأنشطة والخدمات المتعلقة به.
- Article 4
The article requires every permit holder and license holder to comply with the Law, the regulations, the conditions of the permit or license, and the related instructions and decisions of the competent authority.
على كل من المصرح له والمرخص له؛ الالتزام بأحكام النظام، واللوائح، وشروط التصريح أو الترخيص، والتعليمات والقرارات -ذات العلاقة- التي تصدرها الجهة المختصة.
- Article 5
The article tasks the competent authority with setting the controls for carrying out voluntary programs, plans and initiatives related to the environment.
تضع الجهة المختصة ضوابط تنفيذ البرامج والخطط والمبادرات التطوعية المتعلقة بالبيئة.
- Article 47
The Article lists the matters that the regulations determine, including environmental protection requirements, permits and licenses and their fees, noise pollution, environmental assessment studies and the basis for calculating compensation.
تُحدد اللوائح ما يأتي: 1- الضوابط والإجراءات المتعلقة بتطبيق المبادئ البيئية. 2- الاشتراطات والضوابط والإجراءات والمقاييس والمعايير اللازمة لحماية الأوساط البيئ
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.