Directive 2008/99 - Protection of the environment through criminal law - Main contents

Summary of Legislation
Legislative text

1. Summary of Legislation

EU law against environmental crime

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2008/99/EC – protecting the environment by means of criminal law

WHAT DOES THIS DIRECTIVE DO?

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It defines a number of serious offences that harm the environment.
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It requires EU countries to introduce effective and proportionate penalties constituting a deterrent for such offences, regardless of whether they are committed intentionally or through serious negligence.

KEY POINTS

Types of unlawful* behaviour harmful to human health or the environment that are subject to penalties include:

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discharging, emitting or otherwise releasing dangerous materials into air, soil or water;
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collecting, transporting, recovering or disposing of hazardous waste;
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shipping noticeable quantities of waste;
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operating an industrial plant that conducts dangerous activities or stores dangerous substances (e.g. factories producing paints or chemicals);
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manufacturing, treating, storing, using, transporting, importing, exporting, or disposing of nuclear material and hazardous radioactive materials;
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killing, possessing or trafficking in noticeable amounts of protected animal and plant species;
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damaging protected habitats;
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producing, trading in or using substances that deplete the ozone layer (e.g. chemicals in fire extinguishers or cleaning solvents).

Penalties:

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EU countries must ensure that the offences or types of unlawful behaviour listed in Article 3 of the Directive are punishable by effective and proportionate criminal penalties constituting a deterrent and applicable to individuals.
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EU countries must establish that legal persons* can be held liable for offences committed for their benefit by persons acting in a leading position based on a power of representation, on an authority to take decisions on behalf of the legal person or to exercise control within the legal person. Legal persons are also held liable if the lack of supervision or control by such a person in a leading position has made it possible to commit the offence.
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Liability of legal persons does not exclude criminal proceedings against natural persons who are perpetrators, inciters or accessories in the offence referred to in the Directive. Depending on the legal system applicable in the EU country concerned, the liability of legal persons may be criminal or non-criminal.
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This directive builds upon Directive 2004/35/EC, which lays down rules on environmental liability as regards preventing and remedying environmental damage.
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EU countries are responsible for prosecuting environmental crime. Because legal systems differ among EU countries, criminals can exploit any lack of cooperation and coordination between national authorities. Networks of environmental professionals, such as the EU Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), the EU Forum of Judges for the Environment (EUFJE) and the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE), play an important role in sharing best practice and developing methodologies for effective enforcement.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 26 December 2008. EU countries were required to incorporate it into national law by 26 December 2010.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

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Environmental crime (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Unlawful: in this context, refers to breach of EU or national laws that give effect to the EU legislation referred to in the Annexes to Directive 2008/99/EC.

Legal person: a non-human entity, such as a company, that is treated as a person for limited legal purposes. A legal person can sue, be sued, won property and enter into contracts.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law (OJ L 328, 6.12.2008, pp. 28-37)

2. Legislative text

Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law (Text with EEA relevance)

Contents

1.

Summary of Legislation

2.

Legislative text