Section 37: Issue of standards and guidelines

37. Issue of standards and guidelines (1) Subject to this section, the Minister may, for the protection and management of the environment, issue guidelines published in the Gazette on any of the following— (a) water; (b) effluent limitations; (c) air; (d) noise; (e) waste, in any form or nature; (f) pesticide residues; (g) odour; (h) — (i) built-up environment and landscape. (2) Without prejudice to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and any other enactment, and subject to this section, the Minister shall, for the control of pollution of the environment, have exclusive authority to issue national environmental standards in relation to any of the subjects set out in subsection (1). (3) A public department, a non-governmental organisation or any person, may make recommendations to the Minister in respect of national environment standards. (4) Where the Minister proposes to issue any guidelines or any national environmental standards or to amend existing guidelines or standards, he— (a) shall consult the relevant enforcing agency; (b) may consult a technical advisory committee appointed by him, and the Committee. (5) Before issuing any guidelines or national environmental standards, the Minister shall cause the proposed guidelines or standards to be published by notice in the Gazette and in 2 daily newspapers, and invite submissions in writing on the proposed standards within such period as may be specified in the notice. [S. 37 amended by s. 20 of Act 6 of 2008 w.e.f. 15 July 2008.] [Issue 2] E12 – 30 Revised Laws of Mauritius