# Act on the Inspection for Environmental Protection (inspections)

Act of 20 July 1991 on the Inspection for Environmental Protection (ustawa o Inspekcji Ochrony Środowiska)

- Status: Amendments pending
- Legal order: Poland
- Legal area: Industrial emissions and permits
- Dz.U. 2024 poz. 425 (consolidated text), as amended
- Business profile: Mining, Smelting, Semi-fabrication, Recycling, Scrap trade, Waste shipments

## In brief

The Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (WIOŚ) monitors compliance with legislation and decisions (permits, emission measurements); IED installations are inspected every 1–3 years, Seveso establishments every year or every 3 years.

## Key obligations

- enabling the inspector to carry out an inspection (Art. 10)
- informing the WIOŚ of compliance with a post-inspection order within the set deadline (Art. 12(2))
- inspection of undertakings in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Entrepreneurs’ Law, with exemptions for unscheduled inspections (Art. 9a)

## Competent authority

Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (GIOŚ), Regional Inspector for Environmental Protection

## Penalties

Post-inspection orders and decisions, enforcement (Art. 12(1)); actions where offences under Arts 182, 183, 186 of the Criminal Code (kk) are suspected (Art. 10b). Frequency of IED inspections: 1–3 years (Art. 5a(4)).

## Entry into force

29.10.1991

## Application

amendments Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1863, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1157

## Key dates

- 08.10.2026: the Sejm passed the amendments in print No 3001 (objections to the inspection report within 7 days; competence of the WIOŚ in maritime areas)

## Pending changes

Print No 3001 (amendment of Art. 5 of the IOŚ Act and Art. 380 POŚ – inspection report) – passed by the Sejm on 8.10.2026, Senate stage; draft UC99 – IED inspection separately for each installation (proposed Art. 9a(3)).

## Related acts

- [Environmental Protection Law – integrated permits, fees, penalties](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-pos/)
- [POŚ – prevention of major industrial accidents (Seveso)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-pos-awarie/)
- [Draft POŚ amendment implementing IED 2.0 (UC99)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-projekt-ied2/)

## Official sources

- [Text of the act](https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU19910770335)
- [Consolidated text](https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20240000425)
- [Sejm API – consolidated text Dz.U. 2024 poz. 425](https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2024/425/text.pdf)
- [Sejm – print No 3001](https://www.sejm.gov.pl/Sejm10.nsf/PrzebiegProc.xsp?nr=3001)

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Register as of: 22.10.2026. The official text of the act prevails. IGMNiR. On the website: https://igmnir.org/en/law/#akt-pl-ios