Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel clarified that environmental assessment practitioners do not issue Environmental Clearance Certificates but are instead expected to uphold international best practices rooted in accountability, professionalism, and integrity.

This was after IPC MP Rodrick Likando questioned how the ministry ensures that all environmental impact assessments meet the required scientific and legal standards.

"At the moment, the Ministry, through the Office of the Environmental Commission, has set minimum qualification and experience requirements for environmental assessment practitioners who can undertake the EAI studies and submit applications to the ECC for ECC, pardon me, for ECC on behalf of the investors. These requirements are being followed up very strictly by our officials. Very soon, I will table a bill which will address all these shortcomings. The bill proposes for a mandatory certification system to be developed, and it will also introduce a registration process for environmental assessment experts to improve report quality and ethical standards for all environmental assessment practitioners."