On Amendments to the Water Code

On April 17, 2026, the draft law "On Amendments to the Water Code of the Republic of Belarus" was adopted in the second reading. The document was prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection with the aim of improving legal regulation in the field of water protection and use. Key innovations of the draft law: ? Consolidation of the powers of the President of the Republic of Belarus to make decisions on the gratuitous use of surface water bodies. ? Assignment to the competence of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus to determine the procedure for using surface water bodies for navigation by vessels not classified as small vessels. ? The possibility of leasing surface water bodies (or parts thereof) to legal entities for recreation, physical culture, sports, and tourism. ? Prohibition on the construction of more than one dug pond, as well as other surface water bodies, within the boundaries of land plots. ? Exclusion of three administrative procedures in the field of water protection and use for business entities. ? Consolidation that prohibitions and restrictions on general water use are established by local executive and administrative bodies based on hazard criteria determined by the Council of Ministers.