The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (?Ministry?) has issued Regulation No. P.36/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2017 on Registration and Notification Procedures for Hazardous and Toxic Substances. In essence, this Regulation sets out a number of provisions relating to registration and notification for hazardous and toxic substances, an area which was previously regulated under Ministry Regulation No. 2 of 2010 on the Utilization of Electronic Registration Systems for Hazardous and Toxic Substances under the Framework of the Indonesian National Single Window at the Ministry of the Environment.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has finally taken the initiative and set higher emissions-quality standards for motor vehicles through the issuance of Ministry Regulation No. P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/3/2017. This regulation mandates that both producers and importers of Category M, Category N and Category O motor vehicles now have to comply with the emissions standards which are commonly referred to as EURO 4.

As an implementing regulation to Government Regulation No. 101 of 2014, the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Forestry has finally issued Regulation No. P.63/MENLHK/SETJEN/KU.1/7/2016 in order to clarify in further detail the various requirements and procedures which have to be followed when disposing of toxic and hazardous waste substances, specifically at landfill facilities.

The 2016 Regulation has been issued with the aim of boosting Indonesia?s trade-sector competitiveness. This is to be achieved by simplifying and redefining the various procedures and requirements which relate to the importation of non-hazardous and toxic (bahan berbahaya dan beracun ? ?B3?) waste substances.

Government Regulation No. 101 of 2014 on Management of Toxic and Hazardous Waste Substances (?2014 Regulation?) has been issued. In general, the 2014 Regulation regulates the management and disposal procedures for toxic and hazardous waste substances (?hazardous waste?).

The Minister of Environmental Affairs (?Minister?) has issued Regulation No. 5 of 2014 on Wastewater Quality Standards (?Regulation?) to implement Article 20 (5) of Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management. The Regulation sets out guidelines for regional governments to determine thresholds for contaminant levels in wastewater connected to water sources (?Wastewater Standards?).

The 2014 Regulation provides guidance for Environmental Service Affairs Offices at the central and regional levels for calculating damages and losses resulting from damage to the natural environmental. The calculation formula operates as the basis for claiming damages against parties responsible for environmental destruction, as determined by a court or an alternative dispute resolution venue.

In general, the Amendment aims to improve supervision over the import and distribution of 407 hazardous materials (Bahan Berbahaya ? ?B2?) listed in Appendix I of the Amendment, including: borax, formalin, nitrobenzene, sodium cyanide (natrium sianida), mercury, and other substances.

The 2014 Regulation has two main objectives, namely: 1) determining standards for emission substances that can be released by mining companies into the atmosphere; and 2) establishing an obligation on mining companies to monitor the emissions they produce from their processing activities (only for mineral mining companies) and the operation of support machinery.

After being urged by the international community to respond promptly to the haze pollution problem through ratifying the ASEAN Agreement on Trans-border Haze Pollution (?Haze Pollution Agreement?), Indonesia finally passed a Bill (?Bill?) to ratify the Haze Pollution Agreement on September 16th 2014.