Brazil Toughens
Environmental
Regulations
Brazilian President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva
signed Tuesday a decree
aiming to toughen the
country's environmental
law.
According to the new
rules, any person or
company obstructing
environment-related
inspections by
government institutions
will face a fine of up
to 100,000 reais (62,500
U.S. dollars) which has
to be paid within four
months.
Under the old system,
the amount of fine was
decided on a case by
case basis, and payment
could be postponed for
up to five years.
The new rules also
demand all traders of
wild animals to present
a declaration of their
stock and revenues,
otherwise they may face
a penalty varying
between 200 to 10,000
reais (125 to 6,250
dollars).
However, the highest
fines, which could
amount to 50 million
reais (31.25 million
dollars), will be
applied to those who
have posed a threat to
the health of people or
animals, or
biodiversity.
Brazilian Environment
Minister Carlos Minc
said further
modifications will be
made to the
Environmental Law.
According to the
minister, the current
rules are excessively
lenient as the law
foresees short jail time
for environmental
crimes.
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