Three companies from Skopje, Kumanovo and Gostivar received Saturday seven Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) licenses at the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.

Minister Nexhati Jakupi stressed the issuing of the licenses was in line with the Law on Environment, which implemented EU Council Directive 96/61, representing the basic document of the Union's common policy in the field of environment protection from large industrial polluters.

Jakupi stressed the licenses enabled competent bodies with a more efficient control of operations and reduction of pollution.

"The Ministry will continue to implement regulations referring to integrated prevention and control of pollution, thus establishing a balance between the industrial production and environment protection", he added.

The Law on Environment stipulates that all larger industrial facilities have to meet Best Available Techniques (BAT) criteria by 2014, thus acquiring IPPC licenses