Regulatory/Environmental

• Draft law n°49-17 relating to environment was adopted by the government. The draft law amends and replaces the current law n°12-03 relating to environmental impact studies. The draft provides for:

-an environmental impact study obligation for public sector strategies and projects

-a simplified environmental impact study process for small projects

-an environmental audit for existing industrial units

-a list of sanctions: ranging from the shutdown of the unit pending the compliance with the law, to fines between MAR 5,000 to MAD 200,000

• Draft decree n°2.17.746 relating to mandatory energy audit was submitted by the minister of energy to the government. The draft provides for, regarding industrial companies with an energy consumption of more than 1,500 tones oil equivalent,

-a mandatory energy audit, unless they are certified by the relevant Moroccan norms

-a mandatory annual notification of their energy data to the Moroccan agency for energy efficiency

Criminal

• Law n°103-13 addressing violence against women will come into force on 13 September:

– New sanctions in case of harassment, sexist insults, violation of privacy through the recording of private videos without the prior consent of the person