From September 26, new rules will apply for the categorization of development projects that require submission of environmental impact studies.
Ministerial Agreement No. 204-2019, which was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and published in the Diario de Centroamérica on August 16, will come into effect on September 26. See Published Agreement.
Companies have time up until July 2018 to make the necessary modifications to comply with the new environmental rules to avoid fines or even closure of their business.
On April 24 in Guatemala City an event will be held on the implications of environmental legislation in manufacturing.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT):
The Plastics Commission at AGEXPORT and Guatemalan Plastics Commission (COGUAPLAST) will be holing, on April 24, 2015, a course on "Interpretation of important environmental regulations for the manufacturing industry."
Guatemalan Entrepreneurs are asking for the consultations with communities about the environmental impact of mining and infrastructure projects to be regulated.
The Guatemalan Chamber of Industry (CIG) and the Union of Extractive Companies (GEE) has proposed the creation of a regulation governing community consultations, believing that these should be one more indicator in the approval process, and should not be binding in nature.
The new environmental regulations will produce great legal confidence and will speed up investment in the country.
The Secretariat of Natural Resources and the Environment (SERNA) along with the private sector began updating the Regulations for the Environmental Impact Evaluation System, the legal instrument used to regulate environmental licenses granted in the country.