Law No. 10942: Law on Compliance, Control and Penalization of Burning on Agricultural and Livestock Lands

Costa Rica's Law No. 10942 establishes a regulatory framework for compliance, control and penalization of burning on agricultural and livestock lands, with the objective of protecting public health and the environment through prevention, authorization, inspection, suspension and sanction measures. The Law requires written authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) before controlled burning may be carried out and authorizes MAG, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and municipalities to inspect burning operations through field visits and verify compliance with permit conditions and requirements. Where an imminent risk to public health, public safety or the environment exists, authorities may request temporary or permanent suspension of the burning operation. The Law also amends Article 24 of Law No. 7779 on Soil Use, Management and Conservation, creates the Permanent Interinstitutional Committee for the Control and Supervision of Burning and allows the creation of local committees. It further amends Article 229 of the Penal Code to aggravate damage to agricultural or livestock land and adds Article 253 ter establishing the criminal offence of vandalistic burning and fires on agricultural fields and providing prison penalties.