Name of the Organization : Startup Greece
Type of Facility : Licensing of Manufacturing Businesses
Country : Greece
Website : https://elevategreece.gov.gr/
Licensing of Manufacturing Businesses :
With the new law 3982/2011 the licensing procedure for manufacturing enterprises is accelerated, the cost for issuing the permit is reduced and licensing procedures are clarified.Specifically, as far as the philosophy of the licensing procedure is concerned:
Related : How to start a Private Company in Greece : www.statusin.org/26493.html
** For lower nuisance activities (according to JMD 13727/724/24.07.2003, Official Gazette 1087 B) which represent 75%-80% of licensing in Greece, a new model «first I issue licenses» (setting the necessary requirements) and «then I make checks»is applied.
** For medium nuisance level activities, there is the possibility to implement this model with yet increased responsibility of the entity taking the license (through the submission of guarantee letters), whereas for high nuisance level activities the procedure already set remains because of the risk they entail.
** Specific deadlines are set and drastically reduced within which the administration must respond to entrepreneurs who apply for a license. Severe consequences for failure to meet deadlines are provided for.
Licensing structures:
** The Technical Chamber of Greece as well as the Chambers of Commerce are given the possibility to act as the authority issuing the license, having the same powers with those of the Prefecture’s Development Directorate as an equivalent mechanism.
** A Registry of Certified Inspectors is established to conduct inspections throughout the whole life of the business.
Environmental approvals:
** For the activities listed in the second (b) category with regard to their environmental impact (according to the JMD 15393/2332/05.08.2002, Official Gazette 1022 Ii), which represent approximately 80% of the country’s licenses, provisions are made for the standardization of environmental conditions and their incorporation in the Permit of Establishment-Operation or in the relevant with the start of operation signed declaration without requiring the submission of an environmental report and the issue of a separate Decision Approving Environmental Conditions, and where necessary additional conditions may be set for the protection of the environment.
** A longer period of validity of the decision Approving Environmental Conditions is provided for, which is set in 10 years, while it reaches 12 years for companies that have an ISO 14001 environmental management system or equivalent, and 14 years for companies that hold an EMAS certification (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), thus reducing the administrative cost and rewarding companies that invest in environmental protection.
1st category:
Professional workshops (as defined in article 17 paragraph 2 of law), as well as mechanical installations and warehouses of low nuisance levels, given that the motive or thermal power of mechanical equipment does not exceed 22 kW or the thermal 50 kW.
Licensing Procedure:
Business establishment:
These companies are exempted from the obligation to have an establishment permit.
Business operation:
** To start operation, a signed statement must be submitted to the authority issuing the license accompanied by the necessary approvals and documentation. The submission of a statement is attested by a copy from the authority, which the body/agent is obliged to maintain.
** The authority issuing the license conducts a posterior and at call, on-site check of the correctness of the content of the aforementioned signed statement. This check concerns the location, the activity, the power of installation and the maintenance of environmental conditions.
** These companies are exempted from the obligation to have a license for operation.
** The exact procedure will be determined by the relevant regulations to be issued.
2nd category:
a) Units for the treatment of inflammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, toxic or other hazardous substances and gases under pressure, regardless of quantity being processed.
b) Warehouses where the quantity of inflammable, corrosive, oxidizing, toxic or other hazardous substances stored is greater than 100 kg.
C) Warehouses of explosives exceeding the limits of paragraph 2d of article 1 of 405/15.2.89 joint decision of the Ministers of National Defense, Public Order, Τransport and Communications and the Deputy Ministers of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works and Energy, Industry and Technology (B’ 132), and
d) Warehouses where stored gas volume under pressure exceeds 200 pounds.
Licensing Procedure:
Business establishment:
The Authority in granting an establishment permit following the presentation of necessary documents and approvals. After granting the permit and within a period of 15 days, the authority will carry out an inspection.
Business operation:
** To start operation a signed declaration is submitted to the authority issuing the license, accompanied by all necessary supporting documents, by which the start of operation is declared in accordance with the terms of the establishment permit.
The submission of a statement is attested by a copy from the authority, which the body/agent is obliged to maintain instead of a license. The operation of the unit is permitted following the submission of the declaration.
** The authority shall, within 15 days from the submission of the declaration, carry out an inspection to verify compliance or not with the terms of the establishment permit or confirm compatibility. The inspection report must be communicated to the body/agent.
** The exact procedure will be determined by the relevant regulations to be issued.