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Environmental Protection (Inspection and Enforcement Authorities) Law, 2011.

Main Region

First Region

Israel
General provisions
2011-04-05
National
Law, Act

Second Region

The Law states as its goal the protection, maintenance, and improvement of the quality of the environment and the prevention of harm to the environment and to public health, by defining and extending the inspection and enforcement authorities of employees of the Ministry of Environment Protection. The significance of the Law seems to be its comprehensive application to a long list of existing Israeli laws, specified in its addendum, that provide protection to the environment and to public health. Thus, the Law establishes a unified system of enforcement authority for current Israeli legislation in this area and may facilitate the determination of similar enforcement authority in future environmental legislation.

The Law authorizes the Minister of Environmental Protection to appoint inspectors for the investigation of violations of environmental laws. The Law further provides the inspectors with supervision and enforcement authority. Accordingly, they are authorized to request any person to provide identification and any relevant information and documents, conduct measurements, and take samples, as well as to enter any facility or vehicle for the performance of their jobs. Supervisors, however, are authorized to enter residential areas only with a judicial warrant.

Inspectors are further authorized to interrogate suspects and persons who may have information regarding offences under the Law, seize any item connected to such offences, and request search warrants when necessary. They may also detain persons who either refuse to cooperate, are suspected of planning to flee if not detained, or whose identities are unknown, until the arrival of a police officer.

When carrying out their authority under the Law, inspectors must wear identifiable clothing, carry ID, and possess a document signed by the Minister testifying to their jobs and authority; this document must be presented upon request. Inspectors are excused from the latter requirement if it could hamper the exercise of their authority or harm the safety of the inspectors or any other persons.

Entry dates region

    Date of entry into force
    2011-08-01
    --

Electronic region

Serial region

    Serial title
    Reshomot,Sefer Ha Choukem
    Date
    2011-04-01
    Number
    No. 2290
    Page range
    P. 738 - P.752