This Law here defines the overall competence and responsibility for air protection activities and needs in general, including issues on related planning documents, and issues for necessary monitoring and evaluation of air quality. The text is divided into twelve main Chapters and 108 articles. Titles of Chapters are: General provisions (I); Plan, programmes and reports (II); Air quality monitoring and assessment (III); Air pollution prevention and reduction measures (IV); Air quality reporting and data exchange (V); Air quality monitoring activity and air emissions (VI); Air protection information system (VII); Financing of the air protection (VIII); Administrative supervision (IX); Inspection supervision (X); Penalty provisions (XI); and Transitional and final provisions (XII).
These rules are aimed at setting: measures for prevention and reduction of air pollution; reporting on air quality and data exchange; activity for monitoring air quality and emissions into the air; air protection information system; financing of air protection; and administrative and inspection control related tasks. Measures of protection and improvement of air quality are determined in order to offer avoidance, prevention or reduction of adverse effects on human health, quality of life and the environment; prevention and reduction of pollution affecting air quality; maintain air quality if air is clean or slightly polluted and improving air quality in cases of pollution; use more efficient technologies with regard to energy consumption and promotion of use of renewable energy sources in order to reduce the contribution to air pollution; establish, maintain and improve a complete air quality management system on the territory of the Republic of Croatia; assess air quality and obtain relevant air quality data based on standardized methods and benchmarks applicable on the territory of the European Union; make all possible air quality information available to the public; and to fulfill obligations assumed by international treaties and agreements of which Republic of Croatia is party with the aim of participating in international cooperation in the field of air protection.
Key provisions are listed in article 3 which declares that the protection and improvement of air quality, for the purpose of sustainable development, is based on the principles of environmental protection determined in accordance with laws governing over the environmental protection in general and in accordance with multiple requirements of international laws and those from acquis communautaire. Article 5 states that measures taken to protect and improve air quality must not jeopardize other components of the environment, the quality of life of present and future generations, and may not contravene regulations in the fields of occupational safety and health protection. The effective implementation and efficiency of protection and improvement of air quality shall be ensured by the Croatian Parliament and by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and its representative and executive bodies of local and regional self-government units, within their respective competencies also defined by this Law (article 7). Article 9 offers the list of updated official denominations and definitions of terms used in this text. Article 10 determines the sources of air pollution or pollutants, divided into two groups: mobile and stationary (including industrial pollution).
This Air Protection Law contains provisions which are in accordance with several acts European Union, such as Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on air quality and cleaner air for Europe; Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the air; Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1480 of 28 August 2015 amending certain Annexes to Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for reference methods, data validation and location of sampling points for assessment air quality; Council Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on national peak emissions for certain pollutants; Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC; and other, see full list in article 2 (paragraph 1). Paragraph 2 of the same article lists the European Union legislation that has been adopted by this text.