[PIO] Announcement of the Department of Forests regarding the Public Consultation on the draft bill entitled "The Forests (Amendment) Act 2024"

The Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment announces the launch of a public consultation on amendments to the Forestry Laws 2012 and 2018. The bill is part of the modernization of legislation related to fires. It covers the issues of offences, penalties and procedures.

The purpose is to improve the preventive function of this legislation and to respond to modern needs and data. Specifically, the proposed bill provides for:

1. Separation of endangerment offences from offences with effect 2. Redefining the penalties as below:

1. For fire endangerment offences: five years imprisonment or €25,000.00 or both;
2. For fire causing damage offences: ten years imprisonment or €50,000.00 or both;

3. Addition of the offence of using tools without a licence from 1 June to 30 September in an open outdoor area 4. Add provision for recovery of suppression costs on fires within State Forest 5. Record the procedures for service of notice, payment and settlement of out-of-court settlements 6. Add provision for promulgation of regulations for establishment and operation of volunteer forest firefighting corps 7. Increasing the maximum amount of out-of-court settlement that the Director may impose from €2,000.00 to €5,000.00.

The Bill is available on the platform η-Διαβούλευση.

Stakeholders, organised groups, businesses and citizens can submit comments and suggestions on the bill through the above platform.

The public consultation has a duration of four weeks, from 8 February 2024 to 8 March 2024.

(MS/EATH)
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