Environmental Reserve Areas: Do They Affect Free Competition?

Environmental attorney Sofía Suárez Correa wrote an article for Lexir discussing the impact of temporary environmental reserve zones proposed by Colombia's environment ministry (MADS) on free competition. These zones restrict new mining activities and change the conditions for existing companies. Ms. Suárez explains that, under Colombian law, such regulations are generally subject to a competition advocacy review by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) unless specific exemptions apply. However, even though the plans for these projects mention competition review, there is no clear evidence that the process was actually followed, raising questions about how best to balance environmental protection with safeguarding free competition.

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