Hungary will establish a National Environmental Supervision Authority on 1 January 2027. The new authority will be responsible for environmental licensing and inspections, including those related to battery production and battery-waste management.
The new authority will have nationwide responsibility for key environmental, nature protection, climate, water management, water protection and forestry tasks.
Its responsibilities will include environmental licensing, inspections and sanctions related to battery production and battery-waste management. Other regulatory matters concerning the battery industry will remain under a separate battery industry authority, which will cooperate with the new environmental authority.
The government said the new authority is intended to strengthen the institutional framework for environmental protection and ensure professional independence in the management of natural resources.
The authority will also have stronger enforcement powers. Fines of up to HUF 5 billion may be imposed for the most serious environmental violations. Under a new “three strikes” provision, companies that breach environmental regulations for the third time within five years may face a fine of at least 0.5% of their annual net sales, with a minimum of HUF 5 million.
For serious violations of waste-management regulations, the existing HUF 500 million ceiling on fines will also be removed.
The government said the new system is intended to strengthen environmental oversight, particularly in sectors with a potentially significant environmental impact, while ensuring compliance with Hungarian and European environmental regulations.
