ENVIRONMENTAL FINES - WHAT HAPPENS IF IBAMA OR ICMBIO FINES ARE NOT PAID?

Environmental fines are mechanisms used to sanction individuals or organizations that commit transgressions against the environment. These penalties can be imposed by environmental agencies, such as IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), state or municipal environmental agencies, in cases such as illegal deforestation and pollution.

When receiving an environmental fine from IBAMA or ICMBio and not paying, the debt is registered in CADIN and the process is sent to the Federal Attorney General's Office (PGF), which registers it as an active debt and carries out the Tax Execution Action for collection. judicial.

It is important to highlight that the PGF has exclusive competence to collect debts arising from fines applied by IBAMA or ICMBio.

It is not mandatory to be a lawyer to contest an environmental fine. The appeal process is administrative, allowing any person, natural or legal, to present an appeal without the need for legal assistance.

However, hiring a professional specialized in environmental law can be beneficial, providing technical knowledge to formulate a solid appeal in favor of the offender.

The process for appealing an environmental fine may vary depending on the responsible environmental agency. Generally, it is crucial to respect the deadlines stipulated for submitting the appeal, thoroughly analyze the fine and its documents, prepare a clear and objective appeal based on environmental legislation, file the appeal with the responsible body and carefully monitor the process.

If you have any doubts, it is advisable to seek guidance from a lawyer specializing in environmental law.