Environmental violators will face stiffer penalties beginning March 1, 2010. The maximum has now been raised to VND 500 million, 7 times higher than the current fine.
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| Discharging waster water which is higher than the regulated standard will be fined VND300 million |
The Government recently issued Decree No. 117/2009/NĐ-CP which hands down tougher punishments for environmental violations in an effort to raise people and enterprises awareness of the need for environmental protection.
Regarding waste water discharging, enterprises that discharge untreated waste water into the environment will be fined from VND100,000 ($5.4) to VND500 million ($27,000). Accordingly, discharging waste water which is 10 times higher than the regulated standards will be fined VND300 million ($16,238), discharging radioactive waste water which is higher than regulated standards will be fined VND400-500 million ($21,650-27,000).
Regarding gas and dust pollution, gas and dust violators will be fined anywhere from VND500,000 ($27) to VND500 million($27,000). Accordingly, releasing gas or dust which is 5 times higher than the regulated standards will carry a maximum fine of VND300 million ($16,238), discharging radioactive waster gas and dust which is higher than regulated standards will be fined VND400-500 million ($21,650-27,000).
Violators will have to endure additional punishments including revocation of business licenses, confiscation of exhibits, and coerced destruction of pollutant agents until they can come up with an effective solution to improve their practices.
Businesses that import waste and are caught violating the regulations set forth to protect the environment will face penalties of VND20-500 million ($1,082-27,000) and have their licenses revoked for 6 -12 months. Polluting factories caught in violation of the new regulations will face penalties such as having operations suspended until conduct improves, being forced to move to a remote location.
The domestic authorities disclosed and punished approximately 4,545 cases of environmental violations in 2009, according to a statistical report by the Environmental Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security.