• The regulations adopted in diverse fields during this period have also aided the
transition to the EU acquis to some extent, e.g. the adoption of the By-Law on
the Implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES Convention) (OJ No. 24623), the
By-Law on the Protection of Wetlands (OJ No. 24656) to ensure the implementation of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), and the
By-Law on Soil Pollution Control (OJ No. 24609).
11
• To increase the effectiveness of the environmental inspection system, a new
By-Law on Environmental Inspection (OJ No. 24631 (repetitive)) is adopted.
This regulation clarifies the procedures and principles for environmental
inspectorates, environmental management departments and certified inspection
companies etc.
• Another important development which can be shown for this period is the
progress of the Environmental Reference Laboratory,
12 as it has been a great
success and made significant advances in a very short time.
• The Act on the Right of Accession to Information (Act No. 4982) in 2003 and
also a By-Law for the implementation of this Act (OJ No. 25445) were also
adopted. Given that the accession to environmental information can make it
easier for the public to participate in the related activities on environmental
issues and can thus strengthen environmental governance, this act and relevant
regulation is of great importance.
• The Act Approving the Biodiversity Convention’s Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety (Act No. 4898) was adopted on 17 June 2003.
• The merging of the Ministry of Environment with the Ministry of Forestry in
2003, under Act No. 4856, renamed the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Even if this appears, at first sight, to be a remedy for the common concerns on
environmental protection and the integration principle on environmental policies
within the country, in practice, it still results in challenges due to the disordered and
fragmented allocation of responsibilities between the two ministries and their staff,
and the reflection of this disorder in implementation, enforcement and compliance.
The next amendments to the organization of the Ministry were made in June 2011,
with the establishment of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Urbanization
through Decree Law No. 636, and in July 2011 when the Ministry of Environment,
Forestry and Urbanization was divided into two ministries: the Ministry of
Environment and Urbanization (Decree Law No. 644) and the Ministry of Forestry
and Water Affairs (Decree Law No. 645). The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
was recently established with the abolition of the regulations of the Ministry of
Food, Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs
11
See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.
12
To analyse the development of these laboratories see at: https://lab.csb.gov.tr/.
14
Z. Savaşan
transition to the EU acquis to some extent, e.g. the adoption of the By-Law on
the Implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES Convention) (OJ No. 24623), the
By-Law on the Protection of Wetlands (OJ No. 24656) to ensure the implementation of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), and the
By-Law on Soil Pollution Control (OJ No. 24609).
11
• To increase the effectiveness of the environmental inspection system, a new
By-Law on Environmental Inspection (OJ No. 24631 (repetitive)) is adopted.
This regulation clarifies the procedures and principles for environmental
inspectorates, environmental management departments and certified inspection
companies etc.
• Another important development which can be shown for this period is the
progress of the Environmental Reference Laboratory,
12 as it has been a great
success and made significant advances in a very short time.
• The Act on the Right of Accession to Information (Act No. 4982) in 2003 and
also a By-Law for the implementation of this Act (OJ No. 25445) were also
adopted. Given that the accession to environmental information can make it
easier for the public to participate in the related activities on environmental
issues and can thus strengthen environmental governance, this act and relevant
regulation is of great importance.
• The Act Approving the Biodiversity Convention’s Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety (Act No. 4898) was adopted on 17 June 2003.
• The merging of the Ministry of Environment with the Ministry of Forestry in
2003, under Act No. 4856, renamed the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Even if this appears, at first sight, to be a remedy for the common concerns on
environmental protection and the integration principle on environmental policies
within the country, in practice, it still results in challenges due to the disordered and
fragmented allocation of responsibilities between the two ministries and their staff,
and the reflection of this disorder in implementation, enforcement and compliance.
The next amendments to the organization of the Ministry were made in June 2011,
with the establishment of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Urbanization
through Decree Law No. 636, and in July 2011 when the Ministry of Environment,
Forestry and Urbanization was divided into two ministries: the Ministry of
Environment and Urbanization (Decree Law No. 644) and the Ministry of Forestry
and Water Affairs (Decree Law No. 645). The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
was recently established with the abolition of the regulations of the Ministry of
Food, Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs
11
See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.
12
To analyse the development of these laboratories see at: https://lab.csb.gov.tr/.
14
Z. Savaşan