Iraq shuts down hundreds of factories over environmental violations

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Environmental Police Directorate, operating under the Ministry of Interior, has closed hundreds of factories that failed to meet environmental standards, the directorate's director general, Brigadier General Tayyir Hamid, said. Hamid said the Environmental Police are responsible for enforcing the law, while inspection and reporting procedures are carried out by the relevant authorities, including the ministries of environment, electricity, construction and housing, and industry. The Ministry of Environment, he said, identifies violations and refers them to the appropriate bodies. According to Hamid, closures, fines or warnings are imposed based on decisions issued by the Ministry of Environment, and the Environmental Police carry out those rulings. He added that any factory failing to meet environmental conditions is shut down under a Ministry of Environment decision. Hamid said hundreds of non-compliant factories have been closed to date. No further details on the closures were immediately available.