The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution
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Report Contents

Preface Dedication Acknowledgements Authors
Executive Summary Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Conclusions and Recommendations References
Annexes 1 - 5 Annexes 6 - 9

Marine Litter in the Black Sea Region

2009

Chapter 2 - Legal and Administrative Instruments

Marine Litter Report

2. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUMENTS

ML is part of the broader problem of solid waste management which is closely linked to major problems of public health, conservation of the environment, and sustainable development in the Black Sea region. ML originates from various land- and sea-based sources as a result of manifold human activities and, evidently, causes multivectorial negative impact on the population, wild life, abiotic nature and some sectors of economy. Floating ML and ML items suspended in the water are transported by currents and winds throughout the sea and, thereby, cause transboundary dissemination of solid wastes and basin-wide enlargement of the problem.

Therefore, Black Sea ML is a matter of regulation to some extent (but so far always incompletely) by a series of legal acts aimed to harmonize relevant activities on the international, regional and national levels. However, up till now there is no any jural instrument dedicated specifically to the management of ML problem in the Black Sea marine and coastal environment. Moreover, the concept of ML problem and “marine litter” itself, as a law-term in its proper definition (UNEP, 2005; see Introduction), are not accepted nor it is well-known yet in the Black Sea community.

2.1. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS

A list of international and regional instruments which are relevant (directly or indirectly) to and can be used for the prevention and mitigation of the Black Sea ML problem is presented in Table 2.1.

The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Bucharest Convention, 1992) is predestined to prevent, reduce and control any kind of pollution within the territorial sea and exclusive economic zone of all Black Sea states, with peculiar emphasis on such kinds of pollution as:

Most above articles and protocols are applicable to restrain the ML problem. Three lists of hazardous substances and matter, which are annexed to the Convention and to the Protocols on the Pollution from Land-based Sources and by Dumping, include “persistent synthetic materials which may float, sink or remain in suspension” or, in other words, –those materials which constitute plastic ML.

In accordance with the Protocol on the Pollution from Land-based Sources, the Black Sea states should prevent, reduce and control pollution caused by discharges from any sources on their territories such as rivers, canals, coastal establishments, other artificial structures, outfalls or run-off, etc. Each Black Sea state should also carry out “monitoring activities in order to assess the levels of pollution, its sources and ecological effects along its coasts”, in particular, with regard to the hazardous substances and matter (e.g., persistent synthetic materials).

Table 2.1. Participation of Black Sea states in the conventions and international agreements which are relevant to the management and mitigation of ML problem

Title of convention or agreement Date of entering into force
Bulgaria Georgia Romania Russia Turkey Ukraine *
Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution ( Bucharest Convention) 15.01.94 12.01.94 29.09.92 12.08.93 06.03.94 14.02.94
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) 19.05.05 08.02.95 18.03.93 03.11.83 10.10.90 25.01.94
Annex V to MARPOL 73/78 (optional annex covering garbage; the Black Sea is designated as a Special Area with regard to this annex) 19.05.05 08.02.95 30.08.01 31.12.88 31.12.88 17.10.89
Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter ( London Convention) 24.02.06 no no 29.01.76 no 06.03.76
Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal ( Basel Convention) 16.05.96 18.08.99 26.01.91 01.05.95 22.06.94 01.07.99
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD) 16.07.96 31.08.94 02.08.94 29.12.93 14.02.97 01.07.99
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats ( Bern Convention) 01.05.91 no 25.03.93 no 01.09.84 29.10.96
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals ( CMS, Bonn Convention) 01.11.99 01.01.00 26.01.98 no no 19.03.99
Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS) 01.06.01 01.01.00 30.05.00 no no 09.07.03

* Dates of ratification of the international treaties.

The Protocol on the Pollution by Dumping prohibits dumping in the Black Sea of wastes or other matter which contain the hazardous substances. At the same time, “dumping in the Black Sea of all other wastes or matter requires a prior general permit from the competent national authorities.” Such permits may be issued after consideration of (a) characteristics and composition of the matter intended for dumping, (b) characteristics of the proposed dumping site and disposal method, and (c) possible negative effects of the dumping and practical availability of alternative disposal methods. The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution ( BSC) should be informed by the contracting parties about such national permits as well as about all casual dumping events forced by emergency situations.

In some way, the ML problem can be managed also through the Black Sea Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Protocol to the Bucharest Convention ( Sofia, 2002). In accordance with this protocol (Article 11, §4), the Black Sea states should “co-operate in developing and harmonising their laws, regulations and procedures relating to liability, assessment of and compensation for damage caused by human activities and/or pollution of the marine environment of the Black Sea, in order to ensure the highest degree of deterrence and protection for the biological and landscape diversity of the Black Sea as a whole”. The scope of this protocol embraces maritime and coastal areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Regarding the pollution from vessels, the Bucharest Convention (Article VIII) demands from the contracting parties the observance of generally accepted international rules and standards.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (London, 1973 and 1978 [protocol]; MARPOL 73/78) is the basic convention aimed at combatting pollution from the shipping. This instrument regulates quantities of various wastes that vessels may discharge into the sea. The Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships (Annex V to the Convention) has a special relation to the ML problem because any garbage or solid waste thrown out overboard can be considered as ML. This annex specifies distances from land and methods by which different types of garbage may be disposed from all kinds of vessels and fixed or floating platforms. The disposal/dumping of any plastics (including but not limited to synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing gear and plastic garbage bags) is completely prohibited. The disposal of dunnage, lining and packing materials (other than plastics) is prohibited if the distance from the nearest land is less than 25 nautical miles. The disposal of food wastes and all other non-plastic garbage (including paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery and similar refuse) is prohibited if the distance from the nearest land is less than 12 nautical miles.

According to Regulation 5 of Annex V, the Black Sea is defined as a Special Area[1] with much stricter requirements on the disposal of garbage than in many other maritime areas of the world. Any discharges of garbage (except food waste) are prohibited here. However, the garbage discharge requirements for a region that has been designated as a Special Area (e.g., the Black Sea area) will not enter into force until adequate garbage reception facilities are provided by all riparian countries in their ports and harbours.

Following MARPOL 73/78 and its amendments, vessels of 400 gross tons and above, or ships certified to carry more than 15 persons should develop a garbage management plan including;

decription of the collection, processing, storage and disposal procedures of each type of waste produced by the ship (including hazardous and medical wastes);

a list of waste management techniques and equipment that are in use on the ship;

provisions for the discharge and record of garbage (e.g., garbage record book);

designation of a person responsible for carrying out the plan.

The Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (the London Convention, 1972) is destined to control the pollution by wastes and dredged spoils which are loaded on ships for the intentional purpose of dumping them at sea. In contrast to MARPOL 73/78, this Convention does not address wastes that have been produced during the normal operation of ships. Annex 1 to the Convention lists wastes and other matter that must not be dumped (dumping them is prohibited), including such potential ML items as “persistent plastics and other persistent synthetic materials, for example, netting and ropes, which may float or may remain in suspension in the sea”. It is recognized by the contracting parties that plastic materials and other materials that may cause problems of entanglement and ingestion by marine organisms constitute an environmental hazard (UNEP, 2005).

Article 45 of the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (BS SAP, 1996) envisages that the Black Sea states will consider amending the Protocol on the Pollution by Dumping to the Bucharest Convention in accordance with the London Convention. The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution confirmed this intention in 2002 and adopted some actions required ( BSC, 2002):

promoting ratification of the London Convention by the Black Sea states, and

relevant amending the Protocol on Dumping to the Bucharest Convention before the next Ministerial Meeting in 2007.

The Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (the Basel Convention, 1989) deals with problems of transboundary movements and environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes. Annex 1 to the Convention lists 45 categories of wastes to be controlled, including, for instance, “Y1: Clinical wastes from medical care in hospitals, medical centers and clinics”. Annex 2 defines two categories of wastes requiring special consideration: “Y46: Wastes collected from households” and “Y47: Residues arising from the incineration of household wastes”. It is very likely that hazardous ML from land-based sources falls under the scope of the Convention mainly (but not only) under the categories of wastes requiring special consideration (wastes of household origin). Plastic wastes should be considred as a “ Basel” wastes if they possess any hazardous characteristics as identified in Annex III of the Convention (e.g., explosive, flammable, ecotoxic, etc.) or contain Annex I material to an extent causing them to exhibit an Annex III characteristic. Such potentially hazardous wastes are classified in Annex IX, List B of the Convention (e.g., “B1115: Waste metal cables coated or insulated with plastics”; “B1180: Waste photographic film containing silver”; a long list of “B3010: Solid plastic waste”).

A number of Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of hazardous and other wastes, adopted by the parties to the Basel Convention, would be relevant to the ML problem (UNEP, 2005), such as:

Technical Guidelines on Wastes Collected from Households;

Technical Guidelines on Specially Engineered Landfill; and

Technical Guidelines for the Identification and Environmentally Sound Management of Plastic Waste and for their Disposal.

In 1999, the Basel Declaration on Environmentally Sound Management was signed by the parties. This document is intended to improve implementation of the Convention in fields of the prevention, minimization, recycling, recovery and disposal of hazardous and other wastes, particularly, by means of the enhancement of institutional and technical capabilities, especially in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The Strategic Plan for the Implementation of the Basel Convention was adopted at the 6th Conference of the Parties (2002).

Some other international instruments have indirect relation to the control of ML problem.

The Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD; Rio de Janeiro, 1992) concerns the protection, management and sustainable use of the biodiversity in general, and its subsidiary programme called “Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity” (1995; work program – 1998, updated in 2004) is concentrated on relevant issues in the marine and coastal environment, including some ML-related aspects such as (UNEP, 2005): the smothering of the seabed; effects of entanglement and ingestion of litter on fish, marine mammals and seabirds; dissemination of alien species (ML as a vector for transport of invasive species). The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the Bern Convention, 1979) is an instrument in the field of nature conservation, which covers the whole of the natural heritage of the European continent. Its aims are to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats and to promote European co-operation in that field. The Convention is a fundamental treaty at European level for biological diversity; it co-ordinates the action of European states in adopting common standards and policies for the sustainable use of biodiversity. The parties of the Convention should include all appropriate measures in their planning and development policies and pollution control, with obvious attention to the ML issues among other environmental problems. In 2004, the Strasbourg Declaration on the role of the Bern Convention in the preservation of biological diversity was adopted. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals ( CMS or the Bonn Convention, 1979) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. It is an intergovernmental treaty, concluded under the aegis of the UNEP, concerned with the conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. Migratory species which can be threatened with extinction are listed in Appendix I of the Convention. Two species of Black Sea animals – the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) – are inserted into CMS Appendix I. The parties that are range states of these species should endeavour;

a) to conserve and, where feasible and appropriate, restore those habitats of the species which are of importance in removing the species from danger of extinction;

b) to prevent, remove, compensate for or minimize, as appropriate, the adverse effects of activities or obstacles that seriously impede or prevent the migration of the species; and

c) to the extent feasible and appropriate, to prevent, reduce or control factors that are endangering or are likely to further endanger the species, including strictly controlling the introduction of, or controlling or eliminating, already introduced exotic species.

Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention. All three species/populations of Black Sea cetaceans – the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) – along with the Mediterranean monk seal (M. monachus) and six species of sturgeons (Huso huso, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. nudiventris, A. ruthenus [Danube population], A. stellatus and A. sturio) are listed in CMS Appendix II. The Convention encourages the range states to conclude regional agreements for the protection of such species. In this respect, CMS acts as a framework convention. Following this option, the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS; Monaco, 1996) has been concluded under the auspices of CMS, and most Black Sea countries (except Russia and Turkey) are at present the parties of the Agreement. Significantly, that membership is also open to non-coastal states outside the Agreement area ("third countries") whose vessels are engaged in activities that may affect Black Sea and Mediterranean cetaceans. ACCOBAMS aims to reduce threats to all cetaceans in these waters and to promote closer cooperation amongst the parties with a view to conserving all cetacean species present in the area. The Conservation Plan (Annex 2 of the Agreement) includes a series of measures linked to ML problem in the Black Sea region. For example, the parties should:

introduce or amend regulations with a view to preventing fishing gear from being discarded or left adrift at sea;

regulate the discharge at sea of, and adopt within the framework of other appropriate legal instruments stricter standards for, pollutants believed to have adverse effects on cetaceans;

collect and analyse data on direct and indirect interactions between humans and cetaceans in relation to inter alia fishing, industrial and touristic activities, and land-based and maritime pollution; and take appropriate remedial measures and develop guidelines and/or codes of conduct to regulate or manage such activities.

In accordance with basic norms of international law, national legislation of the parties to above multilateral conventions/agreements should be brought to conformity with these instruments.

2.2. NATIONAL LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUMENTS

National consultants on ML indicated that the ML problem is addressed to some extent in their countries by a number of instruments concerned with various fields of public administration, social life and different human activities (Table 2.2).

Table 2.2. Presence of ML-related items in national legal and administrative instruments regulating different human activities

National instruments concerning: Bulgaria Georgia Romania Russia Turkey Ukraine
• protection of the environment yes yes yes Yes yes yes
• public health yes yes yes Yes yes yes
• coastal and urban development yes yes yes Yes yes yes
• marine and riverine traffic yes yes yes Yes yes yes
• fishery and aquaculture yes no yes Yes yes yes
• tourism and recreation yes yes yes Yes yes yes
• offshore gas and oil exploitation no yes no Yes yes yes
• agriculture and farming no yes no No yes yes
• industry (various branches) yes yes no No yes yes
• protection of state boundaries yes no yes No yes yes
• military (defence) activities no yes yes Yes yes yes
• criminal and administrative offences yes yes yes Yes yes yes

Most national legislative acts, dealing with ML issues, and relevant documents generated by central governments are listed in Table 2.3.

Table 2.3. National legal acts and central government documents relevant to the management of ML problem

Country Title of legal act Date of entering into force
Bulgaria Water Act 28.01.2000
Territorial Development Act 31.03.2001
Law on fishing and aquacultures 2001
Law on Biological Diversity 09.08.2002
Environmental Protection Act 25.09.2002
Waste Management Act 30.09.2003
Act on Sea Areas, Inner Water Ways and Ports (last amendment on 26.05.2006) 23.03.2004
Law on Human Health 01.01.2005
Merchant Shipping Code 27.12.2005
Georgia Code of Administrative Offences (with subsequent amendments) 15.12.1984
Law on the Environmental Protection 10.12.1996
Maritime Code 15.05.1997
Law on Water 17.10.1997
Law on Public Health 10.12.1997
Law on the Maritime Areas 24.12.1998
Sanitary Code 08.05.2003
Law on Wastes (drafted but not adopted yet)
Romania Water Law (#107/1996; amended on 30.06.04, #310/2004) 08.10.1996
Ordinance of urgency on wastes system/policy (#78/2000) Law on the approval of the Ordinance of urgency on wastes system/policy (#426/2001) 22.06.200025.07.2001
Law on the approval of financing contract for the Project on the Environment and Infrastructure in the Port of Constantsa (#517/2001) 24.10.2001
Ordinance of urgency on the integrated management of costal zone (#202/2002)Law on the approval of the Ordinance of urgency on the integrated management of costal zone (#280/2003) 28.12.200226.06.2003
Government decision on the control of bringing in Romania the non-hazardous wastes for their import, active improvement and transit (#228/2004) 04.03.2004
Government decision on the approval of the Regulations for organization and operation of the National Committee of Costal Zone (#1015/2004) 08.07.2004
Government decision on the establishment of the environmental assessment procedure for plans and programmes (#1076/2004) 05.08.2004
Government decision on the approval of National strategy and National plan for waste management (#1470/2004) 18.10.2004
Government decision regarding the landfill waste disposal (#349/2005) 10.06.2005
Ordinance of urgency on the integrated prevention and pollution control (#152/2005) 10.11.2005
Ordinance of urgency on the environmental protection (#195/2005) 30.01.2006
Russia Water Code 16.11.1995
Law on the Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation 30.11.1995
Law on the Waste Production and Consumption 24.06.1998
Law on the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the Population 30.03.1999
Law on the Protection of the Environment 10.01.2002
Turkey Law of the Harbour 20.04.1925
Law of the Public Hygiene 06.05.1930
Law of the Turkish Coast Guard Command 13.07.1982
Law on the Organization, Duties and Authority of the Gendarmerie 10.03.1983
Law on the Environment (amended in 2006) 11.08.1983
Law of the Coast (amended in 1992) 17.04.1990
Decree Law on establishment/functions of the Ministry of Environment 09.08.1991
Decree Law on establishment/functions of the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs 19.08.1993
Decree Law on Organization/Functions of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry 08.05.2003
Law of the Metropolitan Municipality 10.07.2004
Turkish Criminal Code 26.09.2004
Law on the Response and Coverage of Damages in Emergency Situations caused by Pollution of the Marine Environment by Oil and Other Harmful Substances 11.03.2005
Law of the Municipality 03.07.2005
Ukraine Code of Administrative Offences (#8074-10; with subsequent amendments) 07.12.1984
Law on the Protection of the Environment (#1268-XII) 26.06.1991
Principle Legislation on Public Health 1992
Law on the assurance of sanitary and epidemiological wellbeing of the population 24.02.1994
Code of Trading Navigation (#277/94) 09.12.1994
Water Code (amended in 2000) 06.06.1995
Resolution of the Cabinent of Ministers “On the adoption of rates for the estimation of compensation and harmfulness caused by pollution from ships and other floating facilities in territorial and internal marine waters of Ukraine” (#484d)Resolution of the Cabinent of Ministers “An order for the estimation of compensation and harmfulness caused by contamination from ships and other floating facilities in territorial and internal marine waters of Ukraine” (#116) 03.07.199526.10.1995
Law on Waste (#187/98; amended in 2001) 05.03.1998
Resolution of the Cabinent of Ministers on the “Rules for the protection of surface waters from the pollution by waste waters” (#431; amended in 2002) 1999
Law on the adoption of the National Programme for the Protection and Recovery of the Environment of the Azov and Black Seas (#2333-ІІІ) 22.03.2001
Resolution of the Cabinent of Ministers on the “Rules for the protection of internal marine waters and territorial sea from pollution and littering” (#269) 31.03.2001

The subordinate administrative documents relevant to ML items are presented in Table 2.4.

Table 2.4. Administrative instruments regulating ML problem on subordinate (ministerial, province, district, municipal, harbor, etc.) levels

Country Title of document Date of entering into force
Bulgaria Decree #87 on the Ratification of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in Transboundary Context 23.03.1995
Guidelines for the development of waste management programs (Protocol #4) 02.04.1998
Rules obligatory for the region under the jurisdiction of “Marine Administration” Executive Agency ( Varna and Bourgas) 1998
Regulation on the requirements for treatment and transportation of industrial and hazardous waste (adopted by Decree of the Council of Ministers #53/1999) 1999
Plan for monitoring of objects on the territory of Port of Varna Ltd. 1999
Regulation on the procedure and manner for establishment of networks and on the operation of the National Water Monitoring System 21.11.2000
Plan for monitoring of objects on the territory of Port of Bourgas Ltd. 2000
Regulation on the quality of coastal marine waters 25.01.2001
Regulation on the requirements for operational suitability of all, except navy ports, for qualification of the workforce and for issuing certificates for operational suitability which comprises requirements concerning adequacy of port reception facilities and waste reception and handling plans 19.06.2001
Regulation for the activity, organization of work and staff of the Basin Directorates 29.01.2002
Regulation on the quality of bathing water 25.02.2002
Regulation on the terms and conditions for carrying out environmental impact assessment 18.03.2003
Regulation #2 on the terms and conditions for carrying out environmental assessment on national, regional and district development plans and programmes, on urban development plans and their amendments 18.03.2003 (repealed)
Regulation on the procedure for determination of sanctions for deterioration or pollution of the environment above the limits 06.09.2003
Ordinance on the waste classification 25.05.2004
Regulation for the activity, organization and staff of the Regional Environmental Inspectorates 27.07.2004
Ordinance on the conditions and requirements for construction and operation of incineration-plants and co-incineration plants 07.09.2004
Ordinance on the requirements for sites determined for placing of waste treatment facilities 17.09.2004
Ordinance on the conditions and requirements for construction and operation of landfills and other facilities and installations for waste disposal and recovery 24.09.2004
Ordinance on the order and the formats on which information for waste activities is provided, as for the order for keeping public register of the issued permits, registration documents and of the closed facilities and operations 26.10.2004
Order of the Minister of Environment and Waters for approval of guidelines for the development of plans for adjusting the existing landfills in accordance to regulations (#РД-1242) 24.11.2004
Regulation on the conditions, procedure and methods for environmental assessment of plans and programs 2004
Regulation on the delivery and reception of ship generated waste and cargo residues 01.01.2005
Establishment rules of the “Marine Administration” Executive Agency 12.05.2005
Statute for structure and activity of Regional Inspectorates for Protection and Control of Public Health 2005
Order of the Minister of Environment and Waters for new guidelines for the development of municipal programs for waste management (#РД-167) 24.03.2006
Regulation concerning the rules and standards for territory-organizing planning of the Black Sea coast
Order #272 on the categorisation of water sources and water receiving bodies
National Waste Management Program for 2003-2007
National Environmental Strategy and National Action Plan for 2005-2014
National Strategy for Water Sector Management to 2015
National Programme for Priority Construction of Urban WWTPs
National Program for Ports Development
Mandatory Rules for the region under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Marine Administration
Port Waste Management Programs (all ports have such program)
Municipal Waste Management Programs (all municipalities have such program)
Contracts for the concession of beaches along the Black Sea coast
Georgia Decree of the Ministry of Public Health (#36/n) 24.02.2003
All coastal municipal services and ports act according to sanitary guidelines developed locally on basis of relevant national legal and administrative instruments
Romania Government decision #349/2005 regarding the incineration of waste 14.02.2002
Government decision on the establishment of the frame procedure for environmental impact assessment and on the approval of the list of public or private projects subjected to that procedure (#918/2002) 17.09.2002
RMTCT order of on the installations for shipyard reception of waste generated on the ships and residual stuff (#779/2002) 29.11.2002
Government decision on the designation of public authorities in charge of the control and monitoring of the waste import, export and transit activities (#1357/2002) 10.12.2002
RMEWM order for the approval of the procedure of environmental impact assessment and issuing of the environmental agreement (#860/2002) 31.01.2003
RMEWM order on the approval of the methodological guidelines applicable to the frame procedure of environmental impact assessment (#863/2003) 31.01.2003
RMEWM order for the approval of the procedure of issuing the integrated environmental authorisation (#818/2003) 13.11.2003
RMEWM order on the approval of the general technical guide for the appliance of the procedure of issuing the integrated environmental authorisation (#36/2004) 19.01.2004
RMTCT order on the approval of methodological norms regarding authorisation and classification of tourist activities in the costal zone (#455/2004) 18.03.2004
Order of RMEWM (#2/2004), RMTCT (#211/2004) and RMEC (#118/2004) for the approval of waste shipping control and regulation procedure on Romanian territory 15.04.2004
Order of RMEWM (#38- SMI/2004), RMTCT (#1044/2004) and RMPH (#671/2004) on the approval of the Code of conduct/policy for recreation activities in the costal zone 15.06.2004
RMEWM order for the approval of the procedure for authorising activities with the significant environmental impact (#876/2004) 11.01.2005
RMEWM order on the approval of technical norms for waste incineration (#756/2004) 26.02.2005
RMEWM order on the approval of technical norms for waste disposal (landfill) (#757/2004) 26.02.2005
RMEWM order regarding the setting-up of criteria and preliminary procedures of waste acceptance for disposal and the National list of the accepted waste in each class of waste disposal sites (#95/2005) 08.03.2005
RMEWM order regarding the issuing of environmental permit (note) for ceasing waste disposal activities, i.e. landfill and incineration (#1274/2005) 28.12.2005
Russia Order of the Committee for Environment Protection on the Federal Catalogue of Waste Classification (#527) 27.11.1997
Law of Krasnodar Krai [Territories] on Waste Production and Consumption (#245-KZ) 13.03.2000
Law of Krasnodar Krai [Territories] on Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the Population in Krasnodar Krai” (#497-KZ) 26.06.2002
Law of Krasnodar Krai [Territory] on Natural Healing Resources, Health-improving Areas and Health Resorts in Krasnodar Krai” (#585-KZ) 03.03.2003
Turkey Regulations of Rize harbour 04.12.1980
Regulations on fixing penalties to ships and vessels and procedures to let them off a penalty 03.11.1987
Regulations on the control of solid waste 14.03.1991
Regulations on the control of medical waste 22.07.2005
Regulations on the control of hazardous waste 14.03.2005
Regulations of Istanbul harbour 06.09.1996
Regulations of Trabzon harbour 12.08.1999
Regulations on environmental impact assessment 16.12.2003
Regulations of ship dismantling 08.03.2004
Regulations on waste purchase service from the vessels 11.03.2004
Regulations on waste control of excavations soil, construction and debris wastes 18.03.2004
Regulations on packaging and packaging waste control 30.07.2004
Regulations on the control of used batteries and accumulators 31.08.2004
Regulations on reception of waste from the ships and waste control 26.12.2004
Regulations on the control of water pollution 31.12.2004
Regulations on urban wastewater treatment 08.01.2006
Regulations on bathing waters 09.01.2006
Ukraine UMPH order on the approval of the State sanitary rules and norms on coastal marine water protection against pollution in the places of population water use (#631-88) 06.07.1988
UMPH order on the approval of the State sanitary rules and norms on surface water protection against pollution (#4630-88) 01.01.1989
UMPH order on the approval of the State sanitary rules and norms on waste water, oil-contained and ballast water and litter discharge from vessels (#199-97) 09.07.1997
UMTC Rules of Registration of Operations with Harmful Substances on Ships, Marine Installations and Ports (# 452/5643) 10.04.2001
Regulations on Ports of Ukraine

The detailed comparative analysis of above national instruments (which are numerous and heterogeneous indeed) and verification of their conformity with respective international and regional legal acts represent special tasks overstepping capabilities of this report. Certainly, this analytical work should be done in the future, and appropriate recommendations on the harmonization and improvement of national legislation should appear as a result. Nevertheless, it seems pertinent to underline at least five important points reflecting present situation;

1) all six Black Sea states are in transition process of developing and updating their national instruments aimed at combatting marine pollution including ML (or solid waste) component;

2) actual rate of this process and concrete instruments developed are quite different in different countries;

3) however, general trends of this process regarding the ML problem are common in all Black Sea states: (a) to prohibit any deliberate discharge of potential ML at sea and on the shore-strip; (b) to improve solid waste collection, processing, storage, disposal and recycling facilities; and (c) to enhance governmental control of activities mentioned in (a) and (b);

4) national policies in the Black Sea states are aimed at waste minimization, reuse, recycling and recovery of landfills. The major legislative and regulatory tools for waste management are adequately developed in the Black Sea countries, and include basic laws and regulations. The new EU member countries Bulgaria and Romania and candidate country Turkey (The EU Commission started to prepare an Accession Partnership for Turkey , which was declared on March 8th, 2001) transpose relevant EU directives and standards in their national legislation;

5) one of the main management problems affecting most Black Sea countries consists in imperfect ability to apply the existing laws and regulations. Being declared once, they should be implemented by proper way but sometimes they do not work so far or work inadequately.