Environment Ministry Bans Use of Fungus

The following is a summary of regulations that have been passed by the Ministry of the Environment and the National Assembly:

• The Ministry of the Environment has issued Resolution 60 (Official Gazette 37,204, dated May 24 2001) which prohibits the importation and use of the fungus Fusarium Oxiporium, particuarly in relation to the eradication of drug plantations (eg, of cocaine and marijuana). The purpose of the resolution is to protect biological diversity, given that this fungus may be resistant to adverse environmental conditions and its use may cause irreversible harm to health and the environment.

• The National Assembly has issued a resolution declaring the country's solid waste problem to be a national emergency (Official Gazette 37,216, dated June 11 2001). The resolution assigns priority to the management of solid waste.

• The National Assembly has issued Law 19: Approbatory Law of the Amendment of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Official Gazette 37,217, dated June 12 2001). The amendment was adopted in Montreal at the Nineth Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol in September 1997.

• The National Assembly has issued a resolution declaring that the country'swater system requires urgent attention. (Official Gazette 37,216, dated June 11 2001). The resolution declares that the Executive must design a plan (to be executed in less than 10 years) toclean and improve the country's aqueducts.

For further information on this topic please contact Maria Isabel Ponce or Angela C Antakly Heredia at Benson, Perez Matos, Antakly & Watts by telephone (+58 212 265 3801) or by fax (+58 212 265 9252) or by e-mail ([email protected] or [email protected]).