Environmental criminal law comes into force

Directive 2008/99/EC of 19 November 2008 on Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law has been published in the EU’s Official Journal (OJ). The law gives the EU’s 27 Member States two years to come up with “effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal penalties” against people Directive 2008/99/EC of 19 November 2008 on Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law has been published in the EU’s Official Journal (OJ). The law gives the EU’s 27 Member States two years to come up with “effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal penalties” against people responsible for pollution that causes death, serious injury or major damage to the environment”. Furthermore, companies will be held liable for acts committed by staff. It will be up to Member States to decide and impose sanctions. Environmental crimes include discharging emissions or radiation into air, soil or water, disposal and shipment of toxic waste, killing or trading in protected plants and animals, and destroying EU nature reserves.

The Directive is available here