professions through a review of the laws (see responses to recommendation XVIII).  strengthening of the monitoring and inspection of public and private health care and pharmaceutical establishments through the conduct of several unannounced monitoring and supervision missions of the Ministry of Health, several inspection missions of the public and private health care and pharmaceutical establishments by the service inspectors; this led to the closure of 14 private health facilities and the issuance of warning to 22 others. v) Legislative and other measures taken to protect individuals and people from environmental, industrial and occupational risks, prevent air, land and water pollution, mitigate the adverse effects of urban development, industrialization and climate warming and to ensure food security. 174. With regard to the obligation of mining companies to protect the environment, Article 99 of the Mining Act stipulates that mining and quarry operations are considered as trading activities. They should be carried out in such a manner as to ensure the rational exploitation of national resources and the protection of the environment in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations. To this end, companies should carry out their work by using techniques approved by the mining industry and take the necessary measures to preserve the environment, treat waste and preserve forest and water resources. Holders of prospecting permits, operating permits, small-scale operating authorization or an authorization to open or operate a quarry are required to forward a periodic annual general safety report to the mining administration. Furthermore, the authorities cannot approve or authorize the abovementioned activities and work without an environmental impact assessment which will enable them to determine their consequences on the environment. 175. According to Article 27 of the standard mining convention (environmental protection and rehabilitation of exploited sites), the exploitation of any new deposit is subject to a prior Environmental Impact Assessment in accordance with the prevailing environmental law. This Environmental Impact Assessment is an integral part of the Feasibility Study. The mine operator and Mining Company commit to take the necessary mine operating measures to protect the environment. This concerns the following main areas: - protection of natural spaces; - preservation of the health and safety of the neighbouring population, and more generally public health; - preservation of the natural local flora and fauna, and - protection of known natural resources. 176. The measures should be in conformity with the requirements stipulated by the relevant laws on the environment or, failing that, they should be deemed to be acceptable with regard to the practices ordinarily upheld by the mining industry. The commitments made by the mining operator and the mining company concern the following points in particular: - carry out mining operations in conformity with the Mining Regulations and ordinarily upheld practices; - periodically monitor throughout the duration of the Mining Operations the quality of water, land and air in the Perimeter and its immediate environs; - ensure the organized management of the land and rocks in such a manner as would ensure the stability of the land concerned and would at the same time ensure the avoidance of adverse consequences on the drainage system and the quality of surface water with regard to sedimentation, creation of unsafe volumes of water or protection from erosion; - monitor any discharge of solutions which can contain soil, air or fresh water polluting substances as a result of their origin; 44