Some 260 actions were carried out at operators and facilities subject to industrial emissions regimes, the prevention of major accidents, the use of chemical substances and urban wastewater treatment plants with more than 2,000 inhabitants, according to a statement issued by the agency.

Of the total number of inspections, 170 focused on controlling cross-border movements of waste resulting in "the retention of 3591.84 tons of waste from Italy by sea, as part of the suspension (between 17 May and 31 December 2020) of authorisations to enter Portugal for waste determined by the government, due to the pressure that the waste resulting from the pandemic situation (covid-19) generated in national landfills.

Among the offences detected, "special reference is made" to those established by IGAMAOT inspectors in the areas of waste (105), water (53), industrial emissions (46) and atmospheric emissions (36), according to the information disclosed in the communiqué.