SoiLEX - Soil related legal instruments and soil governance

All the legal instruments present on the platform have been obtained on the basis of FAOLEX and the EU Sol Wiki and validated by national experts to be relevant and up-to-date.

Each instrument can be searched by country profile or by soil-related keywords and includes a ranking system based on the relevance of the document to the selected keyword, the scope of the legislation, its nature and year. The ranking system facilitates the search and enables users to easily understand which documents are the most important for each search they make.

The information provided by the database allows users to have the complete document as well as a detailed summary of its content, focusing mainly on the purpose and specific objectives of the instrument.

Country

Waterlogging

Armenia

Water Code HO-373-N Date of text: 17-06-2002
(National)

Australia

Soil and Land Conservation Regulation 1992 Date of text: 12-06-1992
(Western Australia)

Austria

Act concerning the safe discharge of mountain waters. Date of text: 30-06-1884
(National)
Federal Water Act Date of text: 16-10-1959
(National)
Waterworks Promotion Act 1985. Date of text: 01-01-1984
(National)
Austrian Spatial Development Concept ÖREK 2011. Date of text: 04-08-2011
(National)
Austrian Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change Date of text: 01-01-2012
(National)

Belgium

Flood Risk Management Plans (2016-2021). Date of text: 26-02-2016
(Wallonia)
Decree on Integrated Water Management Date of text: 18-07-2003
(Flanders)
Circulaire on Permits Delivered in Flood-Risk Area and to the Prevention of Land Sealing. Date of text: 04-03-2003
(Wallonia)
Plan for the Prevention of Floods and Their Effects on Flood Victims. Date of text: 09-01-2003
(Wallonia)
Decision on the Granting of Subsidies against Erosion, Floods and Mudslides. Date of text: 18-01-2007
(Wallonia)
Water Code Date of text: 03-03-2005
(Wallonia)
Strategy for Sustainable Development (27/06/2013). Date of text: 27-06-2013
(Wallonia)
Agricultural Code Date of text: 27-03-2014
(Wallonia)
Climate Decree (1) (M.B. 10.03.2014). Date of text: 20-02-2014
(Wallonia)
Environment Code. Date of text: 05-12-2008
(Wallonia)
Territorial Development Code. Date of text: 01-06-2017
(Wallonia)

Benin

Plan de gestion de la sécheresse 2019-2024. Date of text: 01-01-2019
(National)

Brazil

Law No. 9.433 creating the National Water Resources Policy, the National Water Resources Management System, regulating Section XIX, Article 21 of the Federal Constitution. Date of text: 08-01-1997
(National)

Bulgaria

Spatial Planning Law Date of text: 01-01-2001
(National)

Canada

The Water Rights Act (C.C.S.M c. W80) Date of text: 01-01-1999
(Manitoba)
The Irrigation Act, 2019 (S.S. 2019, c. I-14.2). Date of text: 15-05-2019
(Saskatchewan)
Irrigation Regulations (R.R.S. c. I-14.2 Reg. 1). Date of text: 27-03-2020
(Saskatchewan)
Agricultural Crop Rotation Act (R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. A-8.01). Date of text: 01-01-1988
(Prince Edward Island)
Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010 (S.S. 2010, c. E-10.22). Date of text: 01-01-2010
(Saskatchewan)
Water Security Agency Act (S.S. 2005, c. W-8.1). Date of text: 01-01-2005
(Saskatchewan)

Chile

Ley Nş 18.450 - Normas para el fomento de la inversión privada en obras de riego y drenaje. Date of text: 22-10-1985
(National)
Decreto Nş 82 - Reglamento de suelos, aguas y humedales. Date of text: 20/07/2010
(National)

China

Groundwater Pollution Control Standards. Date of text: 21-11-2001
(Taiwan)
Regulations of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Conservation of Water and Soil. Date of text: 26-02-1997
(National)
The Decree No. 120 of the State Council promulgating the Implementing Regulations of the Water and Soil Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China. Date of text: 01-08-1993
(National)
Water and Soil Conservation Regulation of Guizhou Province of the People’s Republic of China. Date of text: 29-11-2012
(Guizhou)
Measures of Tianjin Municipality for implementing the Water and Soil Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China. Date of text: 18-01-1995
(Tianjin)
Measures of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for implementation of the Soil and Water Conservation Law. Date of text: 27-09-1994
(Xinjiang)
Water and Soil Conservation Regulation of Zhejiang Province. Date of text: 26-09-2014
(Zhejiang)

Costa Rica

Decreto Nş 35216-MINAET-MAG ? Programa de Acción Nacional de Lucha contra la Degradación de la Tierra en Costa Rica. Date of text: 11-03-2009
(National)
Decreto Nş 37.757/S - Reglamento sobre valores guía en suelos para descontaminación de sitios afectados por emergencias ambientales y derrames. Date of text: 15-05-2013
(National)
Decreto Nş 29.375/MAG/MINAE/S/MOPT - Reglamento a la Ley sobre uso, manejo y conservación de suelos. Date of text: 08/12/1999
(National)
Constitución Política de la República de Costa Rica. Date of text: 07/11/1949
(National)
Decreto Nş 27.012/MEIC - Reglamento técnico RTCR 359/1998: Determinación del tamańo de partícula de los fertilizantes. Date of text: 05-01-1998
(National)
Decreto Nş 33.959/MINAE - Manual de instrumentos técnicos para el proceso de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental (Manual de EIA) - Parte V, para los movimientos de tierras. Date of text: 14-08-2007
(National)
Decreto Nş 37.847/S - Modifica el Decreto Nş 37.757/S, Reglamento sobre valores guía en suelos para descontaminación de sitios afectados por emergencias ambientales y derrames. Date of text: 11-07-2013
(National)
Decreto Nş 39.316/S - Reglamento para el manejo y disposición final de lodos y biosólidos ordinarios y especiales. Date of text: 10-08-2015
(National)
Decreto Nş 39994-MAG ? Reglamento técnico RTCR 485:2016. Sustancias químicas. Fertilizantes y enmiendas para uso agrícola. Tolerancias y límites permitidos para la concentración de los elementos y contaminantes. Date of text: 24-10-2016
(National)
Decreto Nş 40492-MINAE-MAG ? Articulación Intersectorial para la incorporación de los Principios de Neutralidad de la Degradación de Tierras en la Lucha contra la Desertificación, la Degradación de la Tierra y la Sequía. Date of text: 03-04-2017
(National)
Ley Nş 7575 - Ley Forestal. Date of text: 13-02-1996
(National)
Ley Nş 7779 - Ley sobre uso, manejo y conservación de suelos. Date of text: 30-04-1998
(National)

Croatia

Water Act Date of text: 28-06-2019
(National)
Forestry Act Date of text: 13-07-2018
(National)

Cuba

Ley Nş 124 - Ley de las Aguas Terrestres. Date of text: 14-07-2017
(National)

Cyprus

Czechia

Water Act Date of text: 28-06-2001
(National)

Côte d'Ivoire

Loi nş 98-755 portant Code de l'eau. Date of text: 23-12-1998
(National)
Loi portant amendement de l'article 26 de la loi nş 98-750 relative au domaine foncier rural. Date of text: 28-07-2004
(National)

Denmark

Law on Watercourses Date of text: 19-05-1992
(National)

Dominican Republic

Ley Nş 6 - Crea el Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidráulicos (INDRHI). Date of text: 09-09-1965
(National)

Ecuador

Acuerdo Nş 155 - Normas Técnicas Ambientales para la prevención y control de la contaminación ambiental para los sectores eléctrico, telecomunicaciones y transporte. Date of text: 12-12-2006
(National)
Decreto Nş 1.589 - Políticas básicas ambientales del Ecuador. Date of text: 07-07-2006
(National)

Estonia

Water Act Date of text: 30/12/1999
(National)

Eswatini

Swaziland National Irrigation Policy. Date of text: 01-07-2005
(National)

European Union

Floods Directive Date of text: 23-10-2007
(National)
Water Framework Directive Date of text: 23-10-2000
(National)
Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste. Date of text: 26-04-1999
(National)
Industrial Emissions Directive Date of text: 24-11-2010
(National)
Fertiliser Regulation Date of text: 05-06-2019
(National)

Finland

Act on Fresh and Marine Water Resources Conservation Management (No. 1299 of 2004). Date of text: 30/12/2004
(National)
National Land Use Guidelines. Date of text: 14-12-2017
(National)

Germany

Federal Water Act Date of text: 31-07-2009
(National)
Federal Nature Conservation Act Date of text: 29-07-2009
(National)

Guam

Soil Water Conservation Programs - Article 5 of Chapter 63 of Title 5 CGA “Fish, Game, Forestry Conservation”. Date of text: 01-01-2000
(National)

Haiti

Décret-loi du 29 septembre 1944 coordonnant les activités relatives ŕ la réalisation d'un programme de reboisement, de conservation de sol, d'irrigation et de drainage de nos plaines et nos montagnes et créant le Service des Eaux et Foręts. Date of text: 29-09-1944
(National)

Hungary

Decree No. 219 of 2004 (VII. 21.) Korm. of the Government on the protection of underground waters. Date of text: 21-07-2004
(National)
Second National Climate Change Strategy (2014-2025). Date of text: 01-09-2013
(National)
Act No. CXXIX of 2007 on the protection of arable land. Date of text: 30-11-2007
(National)
Act No. LV of 1994 on Cultivated Soil. Date of text: 27-06-1994
(National)

Indonesia

Law No. 37 of the Republic of Indonesia No. 37 of 2014 concerning Soil and Water Conservation. Date of text: 17-10-2014
(National)

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Sixth Social, Economic and Cultural Development Plan 2017-2021 Date of text: 04-03-2017
(National)

Ireland

Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1955 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1990 Date of text: 15-11-1990
(National)
European Communities (Assessment and Management of Flood Risks) Regulations, 2010 Date of text: 15-03-2010
(National)
Planning and Development Act Date of text: 28-08-2000
(National)
Water Service Act Date of text: 14-05-2007
(National)
National Peatlands Strategy. Date of text: 01-01-2014
(National)

Italy

Decree on Flood Risks Date of text: 23-02-2010
(National)
National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change Date of text: 16-06-2015
(National)

Jamaica

Irrigation Act. Date of text: 23-11-1949
(National)
Watershed Protection Act. Date of text: 01-04-1963
(National)
Operational Plan 2014 – 2015 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Date of text: 18-05-2014
(National)

Kenya

Kiambu County Water and Sanitation Act, 2015 (No. 2A of 2015). Date of text: 30-04-2015
(Kiambu)

Latvia

Law on Amelioration Date of text: 14-01-2010
(National)
Law on Water Management Date of text: 12-09-2002
(National)

Liberia

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan-II 2017-2025. Date of text: 01-03-2017
(National)

Lithuania

Law on Water Date of text: 21-10-1997
(National)
Law No. I-1495 “On environmental impact assessment of planned economic activities.”. Date of text: 15-08-1996
(National)

Luxembourg

Law on Water Date of text: 19-12-2008
(National)
Master Programme for Spatial Planning. Date of text: 27-03-2003
(National)

Malawi

National Environmental Policy. Date of text: 01-06-2004
(National)

Malta

Assessment and Management of Flood Risks Date of text: 01-01-2010
(National)
Water Policy Framework Regulations Date of text: 01-01-2015
(National)
Nitrates Action Programme Malta Date of text: 01-01-2011
(National)
Strategic Plan for Environment and Development Date of text: 01-07-2015
(National)
National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Date of text: 01-05-2012
(National)

Mexico

Ley de Aguas Nacionales. Date of text: 27-11-1992
(National)
Ley Agraria, 1992. Date of text: 23-02-1992
(National)

Nauru

Framework for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction. Date of text: 01/01/2015
(National)

Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

Decree No. 233 of 1993 containing Rules relative to Infiltration of Surface Water into the Soil. Date of text: 20/04/1993
(National)
Water Act Date of text: 29-01-2009
(National)
Sixth Dutch Action Program concerning the Nitrates Directive (2018 - 2021). Date of text: 01-12-2017
(National)

New Zealand

Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Acts 1941 (No. 12 of 1941). Date of text: 29-09-1941
(National)

Nicaragua

Decreto Nş 44-2010 ? Reglamento de la Ley Nş 620, Ley General de Aguas Nacionales. Date of text: 04-08-2010
(National)

Oman

Ministerial Decision No. 145 of 1993 issuing the Regulations on waste water reuse and discharge. Date of text: 13-06-1993
(National)

Panama

Resolución Nş 3 - Tarifas por los servicios técnicos para el manejo, uso y aprovechamiento de los recursos hídricos y edáficos. Date of text: 22-01-1998
(National)

Poland

Act on Water Law Date of text: 18-07-2001
(National)
Law on Forests Date of text: 28-09-1991
(National)
Act on Protection of Agricultural and Forest Land Date of text: 03-02-1995
(National)

Portugal

Law on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks Date of text: 22'-10-2010
(National)
Water Law Date of text: 29-12-2005
(National)
Environment Policy Act Date of text: 14-04-2014
(National)
Law No. 31/2014 establishing the general basis for public policies on soils, land use and urbanism. Date of text: 30-05-2014
(National)
National Ecological Reserve Date of text: 22-08-2008
(National)
Decree-Law No. 86/2002 updating the legal regime for agricultural waterworks, approved by Decree-Law No. 269/82. Date of text: 06-04-2002
(National)

Republic of Moldova

Order No. 79 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food industry validating the Requirements for the application of the System of conservative agriculture. Date of text: 05-04-2016
(National)

Romania

Decision no. 447 of 10 April 2003 on the approval of methodological norms regarding the elaboration and content of natural risk maps in landslides and floods. Date of text: 10-04-2003
(National)
Emergency Ordinance no. 195 of 22 December 2005 on environmental protection. Date of text: 22-12-2005
(National)
Law no. 100 of 3 June 2010 on afforestation of degraded lands. Date of text: 03-06-2010
(National)

Serbia

Water Law. Date of text: 31-07-1991
(National)

Slovenia

Decree on conditions and restrictions for the implementation of activities and spatial interventions in areas endangered by floods and related erosion of inland waters and the sea. Date of text: 04-10-2008
(National)
Decree on the detailed content and manner of preparation of the water management plan. Date of text: 02-03-2006
(National)
Water Act Date of text: 12-07-2002
(National)
Waters Act Date of text: 12-06-2002
(National)

Solomon Islands

National Adaptation Programmes of Action. Date of text: 01-11-2008
(National)

South Africa

Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act: Establishment of an Irrigation Improvement Scheme (G.N. R. 1487 of 1995). Date of text: 29-09-1995
(National)

Spain

Decree on Protecting Waters from the Pollution by Nitrates Derived of Agricultural Sources Date of text: 16/12/1999
(National)
Forestry Law Date of text: 21-11-2002
(National)

Sweden

Planning and Construction Act (SFS 2010:900). Date of text: 08-01-1987
(National)

Trinidad and Tobago

National Integrated Water Resources Management Policy 2017. Date of text: 01-03-2017
(National)

Tunisia

Loi nş 95-70 relative ŕ la conservation des eaux et du sol. Date of text: 17-07-1995
(National)

Ukraine

Water Code (No.213/95-VR of 1995). Date of text: 06-06-1995
(National)
Law No. 1389-XIV on land reclamation. Date of text: 14-01-2000
(National)
Order No. 688-? of 14.08.2019 of the Cabinet of Ministers validating Strategy of irrigation and drainage in Ukraine in 2030 Date of text: 14-08-2019
(National)

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Flood and Water Management Act Date of text: 08-04-2010
(England and Wales)
Water Environment Regulations Date of text: 15-03-2017
(England and Wales)
The Water Environment Regulations Date of text: 20-11-2009
(Northern Ireland)
Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 Date of text: 16-06-2009
(Scotland)
Water Environment and Water Services Act Date of text: 18-12-2003
(Scotland)
UK Forestry Standard. Date of text: 01-01-2017
(National)
The Scottish Soil Framework Date of text: 01-03-2009
(Scotland)

United Republic of Tanzania

Agricultural Sector Development Programme. Date of text: 01-01-2016
(National)
National Environmental Policy 1997. Date of text: 01-12-1997
(National)
Tanzania Agricultural Sector Policy. Date of text: 01-01-2003
(Zanzibar)

United States of America

Uzbekistan

President Decree on Measures to radically improve the system for the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of farmers, dekhkan farms and owners of farmland and the effective use of agricultural areas under crop (No. 5199) Date of text: 09-10-2017
(National)
Programme of Complex Measures on Development of Irrigation, Improvement of Reclamation State of Irrigated Land and Rational Use of Water Resources for 2018-2019". (No. PP-3405) Date of text: 27-11-2017
(National)
Presidential Decree No 718 of 31 October 2007 on Establishment of the Fund for the Reclamation of Irrigated Land under the Ministry of Finance of Uzbekistan. Date of text: 31-10-2007
(National)
Presidential decree on Measures for effective use of land and water resources in agriculture" (UP 5742). Date of text: 17-06-2019
(National)

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Ley de Aguas. Date of text: 09-11-2006
(National)
Decreto Nş 2.177 - Reforma parcial del Reglamento de la Ley forestal, de suelos y de aguas. Date of text: 12-04-1977
(National)
Decreto Nş 5.171 - Plan de desarrollo económico y social para la construcción y mantenimiento de la vialidad agrícola, de los sistemas de riego, el saneamiento de tierras y la construcción de servicios básicos en el sector rural. Date of text: 07-02-2007
(National)
Decreto Nş 1.333 - Reglamento de la Ley forestal, de suelos y de aguas. Date of text: 11-12-1969
(National)

Yemen

Law No. 41 of 2006 amending some articles of Water Law No. 33 of 2002. 2006-12-28 Date of text: 28-12-2006
(National)
Water Law No. 33 of 2002 Date of text: 31-08-2002
(National)
Resolution No. 10 of 2002 issuing the Implementing Regulation of Law No. 25 of 1999 regulating the trade, circulation and handling of plant pesticides. Date of text: 01-02-2002
(National)

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