The law on environment protection, issued in 2001, clearly specified the standards and procedures that control the activities of industrial establishments with the aim of protecting the environment. The law stipulates that any industrial project must be built at a site suitable for its activities to ensure it does not exceed the allowed limits of air pollutants, and to guarantee that pollution resulting from all the industrial projects on the same site remains within the permissible limits.
It has also made it obligatory on all industrial projects to establish waste treatment and recycling centers and to abide by air polluting emissions and leakage controls. Therefore, the law bans burning liquid and solid wastes except in the designated areas away from residential, industrial and agriculture areas and water courses. The law also stipulates that establishments carrying out industrial projects shall abide by the provisions of the regional and international conventions and treaties on environment protection to which Qatar is a signatory.
No industry is given license except against a study evaluating the environmental impact of the "project" and in the light of an approval by SCENR. The licensing authorities ensure that new projects and modifications to the existing ones use the best available equipment to control pollution. In the event of any violation of these environmental considerations, the law has empowered the Secretariat General of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves to notify the proprietor to rectify the same.
SCENR may also impose restrictions and technical or operational measures to clear or reduce any damage to the environment as much as possible. If a violator fails to comply within 60 days, the secretariat general may take necessary action to stop the activity and ask for indemnifications for damages resulting from those violations. The law has also set penalties including a prison sentence of not less than five years in addition to fines.The law specifies regulatory measures for importing, circulating and transporting hazardous wastes and materials.
SCEN|R regulates the operations of importing and circulating chemical and radioactive materials within the country in accordance with the conditions the importing party is required to abide by. The National Center for Environmental Information Section has created a database for chemicals. It contains detailed information about 520 companies importing different chemical substances and more than 10,000 chemical compounds.