Public Law Studies Quarterly

Challenges of Environmental Regulation in Iran: in Light of the Better Regulation Approach

Document Type : Article

Author

Masoud Faryadi

Associate professor, Department of Public & International Law, Faculty of Law & Political ‎Sciences,‎‏ ‏University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2025.385475.3636
Abstract
In recent decades, with the development of the Better Regulation approach, reforming the environmental regulatory process has become necessary in many countries, including Iran. Considering the positive effects of applying Better Regulation principles on improving the quality of regulations, these principles can be used to enhance transparency, consultability, efficiency, stability, and enforceability of environmental regulations. This paper employs a descriptive, analytical, and legal diagnostic methodology to examine the extent to which Better Regulation principles have been applied in Iran’s environmental regulatory process and to identify the challenges in this area. The findings indicate that, in many cases, environmental regulation in Iran does not follow the patterns and principles of Better Regulation. The use of these principles to improve regulations has not yet become institutionalized or established as a consistent practice in regulatory processes. One of the main factors contributing to the ineffective implementation of environmental regulations is the weakness in their quality and efficiency from the perspective of the Better Regulation approach.

Keywords

environmental regulation
better regulation
transparency of regulations
efficiency of regulations
environmental law
Subjects

  1. English

    1. A) Books
    2. Eisner, M. A., (2007). Governing the Environment: The Transformation of Environmental Regulation, USA: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
    3. Morgan, B. & Yeung, K. (2007). An Introduction to Law and Regulation, UK: Cambridge University Press.
    4. Heyvaert, V. (2019). Transnational Environmental Regulation and Governance: Purpose, Strategies and Principles, UK: Cambridge University Press.
    5. Rogers, D. T. (2020). Environmental Compliance and Sustainability: Global Challenges and Perspectives, USA: CRC Press.

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Anton, W. R. Q. Deltas, G. & Khanna, M. (2004). Incentives for Environmental Self-regulation and Implications for Environmental Performance, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, (48), 632–654.
    3. Hann, R. V. & Stavins, R. N. (1991). Incentive-based Environmental Regulation: A New Area form an Old Idea, Ecology Law Quarterly, 18:1.
    4. Holmes, J. & Clark, R., (2008). Enhancing the Use of Science in Environmental Policy-making and Regulation, Environmental Science and Policy, 11, 702-711.
    5. Jones, J. (2007). Regulatory Design for Scientific Uncertainty_ Acknowledging the Diversity of Approaches in Environmental Regulation and Public Administration, Journal of Environmental Law, 19(3), 347–365.
    6. Krysiak, F. C., & Oberauner, I. M. (2010). Environmental Policy à la Carte: Letting Firms Choose their Regulation. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. (60) 221–232.
    7. Lovely, M. & Popp, D. (2011). Trade, Technology, and the Environment: Does Access to Technology Promote Environmental Regulation?. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, (61), 35-61.
    8. Malloy, T. F. (2002). Regulating by Incentives: Myths, Models, and Micromarkets, Texas Law Review, (81).
    9. Stewart, R. B. (1996). The Future of Environmental Regulation: United States Environmental Regulation: A Failing Paradigm. Journal of Law and Commerce, (15).

     

    1. C) Reports
    2. Brown, A. C. et al. (2006). Handbook for Evaluating Infrastructure Regulatory Systems, USA: World Bank.
    3. Dechezleprêtre, A. & Sato, M. (2018). Green Policies and Firms’ Competitiveness, OECD Issue Paper, France.
    4. Goulder, L. H. & Parry, I. W. H. (2008). Instrument Choice in Environmental Policy Resources for the Future, USA: Resources for the Future Discussion Paper: RFF DP 08-07.
    5. OECD (2006). Cutting Red Tape: National Strategies for Administrative Simplification, Paris: OECD.
    6. OECD (2019). Better Regulation Practices across the European Union, France: OECD Publishing.
    7. OECD (2022). Better Regulation Practices across the European Union, France: OECD Publishing.
    8. World Bank (2010). Better Regulation for Growth; Governance Frameworks and Tools for Effective Regulatory Reform: Regulatory Quality Indicators, USA: World Bank Group.
    9. Wunder, S. et al., (2010). Payments for Environmental Services and the Global Environment Facility, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), USA: Global Environment Facility (GEF).

     

    1. D) Documents
    2. European Commission, Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-making, (2003/C 321/01).
    3. European Commission, (2002), Communication on Action Plan "Simplifying and Improving the Regulatory Environment", COM(2002) 278 final.
    4. European Commission, (2005), Communication on Better Regulation for Growth and Jobs in the European Union, COM(2005) 97 final.
    5. European Commission Working Document (2009) Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union, Annex to the 3rd Strategic Review on Better Regulation, COM(2009) 16 final.
    6. European Commission, Communication on Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union, COM(2007) 23 final.
    7. European Commission, (2017). Communication on EU law: Better Results through Better Application (2017/C 18/02).
    8. European Commission, (2021). Commission Staff Working Document: Better Regulation Guidelines, SWD(2021) 305 final.
    9. OECD, (1994). Improving the Quality of Government Regulation Economic, Legal and Managerial Techniques, OECD Publishing, OCDE/GD(94)59, France.
    10. OECD (1995). OECD Recommendation on Improving the Quality of Government Regulation, OECD Publishing, OCDE/GD(95)95, France.

    French

    1. Durand, C. (2008). Mieux Légiférer: une des Priorités Centrales de la Commission européenne, ERA Forum, 9:41–52.
    2. Godard, O. (2014). Instruments Économiques, Justification et Normes de Justice : le Cas de la Politique Climatique, Charlotte Halpern, Pierre Lascoumes et Patrick Le Galès (dir.): L'instrumentation de l'action publique: Controverses, résistances, effets, France: Presses de Sciences Po.

     

    Portuguese
    1. Prates, T. M. (2010). Regulação Ambiental nos Sistemas Regionais de Inovação, Economia política do desenvolvimento Maceió, vol. 3, n. 8, p. 29-42.

     

    Spanish

    1. Verna Coronado, V. (2015). La Regulación Ambiental: Naturaleza, Necesidad y Criterios para su Formulación. Revista De Derecho Administrativo, (15), 61-73.

     

    References In Persian:

    1. A) Books
    2. Faryadi, M. (2010). Legal Mechanisms of Regulatory Impact Assessment in Iran’s Legal System. Tehran: Legal Deputy of Presidency (In Persian).
    3. Hadavand, M. & Mashhadi, A. (2010). Principles of Administrative Law in the Procedure of Administrative Justice Court. Tehran: Khorsandi Publication (In Persian).

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Adeli, O., Goudarzi Farahani, Y., & Ebrahimenejad Rafsanjani, A.K. (2023). Nonlinear affect in Competitiveness and Firm Innovation by Environmental Policy Stringency; testing the Porter's Hypothesis. Journal of Environmental Technology and Sciences, 25(2), 55-69 (In Persian).
    3. Aghayi Tog, M. (2013). Administrative Simplification and its Mechanisms. Journal of Administrative Law, 1(1), 155-188 (In Persian).
    4. Aghayi Tog, M. (2018). Public Consultation Procedures about the Laws: Comparative Study of Iran’s Case. Journal of Administrative Law, 5(14), 9-30 (In Persian).
    5. Holisaz, A., & Safikhani, S. (2022). Study of Command and Control Policy in Iran’s Environmental Laws. Journal of Majlis and Strategy, 29(112), DOI: 10.22034/MR.2022.4829.4677 (In Persian).
    6. Markaz Malmiri, A. (2011). The Effect of Quality and Quantity of Regulations in Business Environment, Majlis Research Center Report, No. 12313 (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 55, Issue 4 - Serial Number 44
Winter 2026
Winter 2026
Pages 2737-2765

  • Receive Date 17 November 2024
  • Revise Date 07 December 2024
  • Accept Date 03 February 2025

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