Countries › Peru › Guide › 13. Regulation › Environmental impact assessment in Peru: when a project needs environmental certification, the three categories, review deadlines, SENACE and the five year lapse
Environmental impact assessment in Peru: when a project needs environmental certification, the three categories, review deadlines, SENACE and the five year lapse
Last verified: 2026-10-28 · Status: Stable
No public, private or mixed investment project that may cause significant negative environmental impacts can start, and no authority can approve or license it, without prior environmental certification under the national system (SEIA, Ley Nº 27446). Projects fall into three categories: an environmental impact statement (DIA) for minor impacts, a semi detailed study (EIA-sd) for moderate impacts and a detailed study (EIA-d) for high impacts, reviewed within 30, 90 and 120 business days. Detailed studies for national and multiregional projects go to SENACE. The certification lapses if the project does not start within five years, and compliance is then supervised by OEFA or the sector enforcement body.
USD figures use S/ 3.452 per US dollar, the banking system selling rate published by the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP for 27 October 2026, from the Banco Central de Reserva del Perú statistics series PD04640PD. UIT based amounts use the 2026 UIT of S/ 5,500 set by Decreto Supremo Nº 301-2025-EF, as listed in the SUNAT UIT table. Fines expressed in UIT are paid at the UIT in force on the payment date. Conversions are for orientation only.
Key facts
| Prior environmental certification before starting listed projects | Yes Ley Nº 27446 art. 3 (DL Nº 1078), as of 2026-10-28 · in force |
|---|---|
| Review period, Category I DIA | 30 business daysLey Nº 27446 art. 11.3 (DL Nº 1394), as of 2026-10-28 · in force |
| Review period, Category II EIA-sd | 90 business daysLey Nº 27446 art. 11.3 (DL Nº 1394), as of 2026-10-28 · in force |
| Review period, Category III EIA-d | 120 business daysLey Nº 27446 art. 11.3 (DL Nº 1394), as of 2026-10-28 · in force |
| Certification lapses if the project does not start within | 5 yearsLey Nº 27446 art. 12.2 (DL Nº 1394), as of 2026-10-28 · in force |
The rule
1. The SEIA covers national, regional and local policies, plans and programmes with significant environmental implications, and public, private or mixed investment projects involving activities, construction, works and other commercial and service activities that may cause significant negative environmental impacts, as listed in the regulation's inclusion list. No such project may start, and no national, sector, regional or local authority may approve, authorise, permit, grant or enable it, without prior environmental certification in a resolution of the competent authority.
Cost to do it: Consultancy fees for the study; sector authority fees are set in each authority's TUPA and are not stated in the law.
Example: A food processing plant on the inclusion list cannot obtain its operating licence until the sector authority certifies its environmental study. / Foreign sponsors should put environmental certification on the critical path before construction contracts and financing draws.Ley Nº 27446, Ley del Sistema Nacional de Evaluación del Impacto Ambiental (promulgated 10 April 2001), art. 2 and 3 as amended by Decreto Legislativo Nº 1078 (El Peruano, 28 June 2008), Art. 2 and art. 3, 2008-06-28 official text · verified 2026-10-28
Cost to do it: Consultancy fees for the study; sector authority fees are set in each authority's TUPA and are not stated in the law.
Example: A food processing plant on the inclusion list cannot obtain its operating licence until the sector authority certifies its environmental study. / Foreign sponsors should put environmental certification on the critical path before construction contracts and financing draws.Ley Nº 27446, Ley del Sistema Nacional de Evaluación del Impacto Ambiental (promulgated 10 April 2001), art. 2 and 3 as amended by Decreto Legislativo Nº 1078 (El Peruano, 28 June 2008), Art. 2 and art. 3, 2008-06-28 official text · verified 2026-10-28
2. Projects seeking certification are classified by environmental risk: Category I, environmental impact statement (DIA), for projects that could generate minor negative impacts; Category II, semi detailed environmental impact study (EIA-sd), for moderate impacts; Category III, detailed environmental impact study (EIA-d), for high negative impacts. Studies must be prepared by individuals or firms registered in the National Registry of Environmental Consultants run by SENACE. The maximum period for evaluation and approval is 30 business days for a DIA, 90 for an EIA-sd and 120 for an EIA-d, counted from filing; deadlines for observations and technical opinions are set in the regulation. The approving resolution is the environmental certification and declares the project environmentally viable; it lapses if the holder does not start the project within five years.
Cost to do it: Registered consultant fees; the review time is the main schedule cost.
Example: A mid sized hydro project classified as EIA-d filed on 1 March 2027 has a legal review period of 120 business days, about six months, before observations extend it. / If certified in 2027 and not started by 2032, the certification lapses and the process restarts.Ley Nº 27446 art. 4.1, 10.2, 10.3, 11.3, 12.1 and 12.2 as amended by Decreto Legislativo Nº 1394 (El Peruano, 6 September 2018), Art. 4.1, art. 10.3, art. 11.3 and art. 12.2, 2018-09-06 official text · verified 2026-10-28 · changed: Decreto Legislativo Nº 1394 (6 September 2018) set the 30, 90 and 120 business day review periods, the five year lapse and the consultant registry under SENACE.
Cost to do it: Registered consultant fees; the review time is the main schedule cost.
Example: A mid sized hydro project classified as EIA-d filed on 1 March 2027 has a legal review period of 120 business days, about six months, before observations extend it. / If certified in 2027 and not started by 2032, the certification lapses and the process restarts.Ley Nº 27446 art. 4.1, 10.2, 10.3, 11.3, 12.1 and 12.2 as amended by Decreto Legislativo Nº 1394 (El Peruano, 6 September 2018), Art. 4.1, art. 10.3, art. 11.3 and art. 12.2, 2018-09-06 official text · verified 2026-10-28 · changed: Decreto Legislativo Nº 1394 (6 September 2018) set the 30, 90 and 120 business day review periods, the five year lapse and the consultant registry under SENACE.
3. The competent authority is the ministry of the sector of the proponent's activity; where a project spans several sectors, the sector from which the company earns its highest gross income. SENACE, a specialised technical body attached to the Ministry of the Environment, reviews and approves detailed studies (EIA-d) for national and multiregional public, private or mixed projects as competences are transferred to it, administers the National Registry of Environmental Consultants and keeps a public register of certifications granted or denied.
Cost to do it: No fee stated in the law.
Example: A large copper mine's EIA-d goes to SENACE; a small quarry's DIA stays with the competent sector or regional authority. / Investors should confirm early which authority will review the study, since it drives timing.Ley Nº 27446 art. 18; Ley Nº 29968, which creates SENACE (promulgated 19 December 2012), Art. 18 of Ley Nº 27446; art. 1 and art. 3 of Ley Nº 29968, 2012-12-19 official text · verified 2026-10-28
Cost to do it: No fee stated in the law.
Example: A large copper mine's EIA-d goes to SENACE; a small quarry's DIA stays with the competent sector or regional authority. / Investors should confirm early which authority will review the study, since it drives timing.Ley Nº 27446 art. 18; Ley Nº 29968, which creates SENACE (promulgated 19 December 2012), Art. 18 of Ley Nº 27446; art. 1 and art. 3 of Ley Nº 29968, 2012-12-19 official text · verified 2026-10-28
4. The SEIA guarantees formal and informal citizen participation in the review of studies: the proponent submits a citizen participation plan, and the authority runs formal consultation during review for detailed and semi detailed studies. Projects that may directly affect indigenous peoples' collective rights also require prior consultation under separate legislation.
Cost to do it: Workshops, public hearings and translation costs for the participation plan.
Example: A transmission line crossing rural communities must hold the participation activities in its plan before the EIA can be approved. / See the investing section for prior consultation timelines.Ley Nº 27446, Art. 13 and art. 14, 2001-04-10 official text · verified 2026-10-28
Cost to do it: Workshops, public hearings and translation costs for the participation plan.
Example: A transmission line crossing rural communities must hold the participation activities in its plan before the EIA can be approved. / See the investing section for prior consultation timelines.Ley Nº 27446, Art. 13 and art. 14, 2001-04-10 official text · verified 2026-10-28
| Category | Study | Impact | Review period |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (DIA) | Minor | 30 business days |
| II | Estudio de Impacto Ambiental semidetallado (EIA-sd) | Moderate | 90 business days |
| III | Estudio de Impacto Ambiental detallado (EIA-d) | High | 120 business days |
SEIA categories and review periods under Ley Nº 27446 art. 4.1 and 11.3 as amended by DL Nº 1394.
Worked example
- A foreign developer plans a 100 MW solar plant spanning two regions. It confirms the competent authority and category, hires a consultant registered with SENACE, runs the citizen participation plan and files the study. If classified as EIA-d, the legal review period is 120 business days, and the certification must be used within five years or it lapses.
Step by step
- Check the inclusion list and the competent sector authority, or SENACE for national and multiregional EIA-d.
- Hire a consultant registered in the National Registry of Environmental Consultants.
- Prepare the baseline; request opinions from SERFOR, SERNANP or PRODUCE where flora, fauna or water resources are collected.
- Run the citizen participation plan and, if indigenous peoples may be affected, plan prior consultation.
- File the study and track the 30, 90 or 120 business day review period.
- Start the project within five years of certification.
Common traps
- No authority may grant licences or permits before the environmental certification.
- Multi sector projects go to the sector of the proponent's main income, which may not be the obvious one.
- Certification lapses after five years without starting.
- Studies prepared by unregistered consultants are not acceptable.
Sources
- Ley Nº 27446 SPIJ text with amendment notes (MINAM on gob.pe)
- Decreto Legislativo Nº 1394 gazette text (Congress archive)
- Decreto Legislativo Nº 1078 (MINAM on gob.pe)
- Ley Nº 29968, SENACE (MINAM on gob.pe)
Related pages
- investing/environmental-certification-and-prior-consultation
- regulation/environmental-enforcement-and-liability
- sectors/mining-energy-and-key-sectors
- sectors/renewable-energy
- sectors/mine-closure
- /country/peru/
- /calendar/
- Live dashboard
Related: Peru country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X
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