On March 16, 2021, Decree No. 64 / 2020 of the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, was published in the Official Gazette, approving the Regulation that establishes conditions for the treatment and final disposal of wastes from aquaculture activities (the "Regulation").
Purpose
The Regulation responds to the need to establish the conditions on treatment and final disposal of waste generated in culture centers, processing plants, collection centers, slaughtering centers and research centers, and other facilities destined to the aquaculture production process.
Definition and classification of wastes
Waste is defined as a "substance or object that, as a direct result of the aquaculture activity, its generator discards or has the intention or obligation to discard according to current regulations". This definition includes solid and liquid wastes, organic and inorganic wastes, as well as hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Depending on each class of waste, the Regulation sets forth different obligations and bans.
Main obligations for cultivation centers, processing plants, collection centers, slaughtering centers, and research centers
- Keep the beaches and surrounding beach areas clean of any residue produced by the activities mentioned above.
- Report their emissions, waste and/or pollutant transfers, under the terms and conditions established in the Pollutant Emissions and Transfers Registry Regulations and other associated regulations.
- Keep a traceability system of the main elements of the productive process that have the feasibility of becoming waste according to the sanitary and environmental risk.
Validity
The Regulation establishes certain terms to come into force for specific obligations, which fluctuate between 6 months and 2 years as of the publication of the Regulation.
