Viable Industry Act

The following is a bill of law that was previously passed and is now an implemented set of laws in the Government of the Astral Commonwealth.

The Viable Industry Act is a document of economic and environmental law that was passed in AR 377 as a means to encourage environmentally sound and sustainable industries and prevent long term damages to habitable worlds due to the improper management of industries and the resources they consume. It is also a means to protect civilians living in the sphere of the Iromakuanhe Astral Commonwealth from potentially exploitative measures by corporations that could result in harm to themselves or the places in which they live.

• Protect civilians from undue harm by any and all corporate entities.
• Maintain long term environmental viability and ensure the continued existence of the Iromakuanhe race.
• Reduce the strain of all industrial, commercial and domestic activities on the environment by encouraging new construction methodologies and new branches of environmentally friendly materials science.

Under the Domain of Section 1:

• Any good meant for consumption by civilians and all branches of the government, save the military.

To pass, a product must abide at least 3 of these regulations.

• The product must have an 85% recyclability rate.
• The product must not incorporate any compounds or elements which are hazardous to sentient or domesticated species and native wildlife.
• The product must be safely biodegradable within the span of 100 years.

To pass, a product must abide all of these regulations.

• Products sold to the general public, with the exception of any and all non-explosive hand weaponry, cannot contain any products that are directly or indirectly harmful to the user or others.
• Products sold to the general product cannot reduce the extended viability of the local ecosystem, by its operation or production. Projections for environmental effect should be made with the maximum possible production numbers.

To pass, a product must abide all of these regulations.

• The product must must not incorporate design flaws as part of a 'planned obsolescence' scheme, unless it has a recyclability rate over 95%.
• The product may not consume a fuel, energy or ammunition supply that has been determined to be damaging to the environment during processing, transportation or manufacture.

Under the domain of Section 2:

• Producers of raw materials and chemicals, manufactured goods and pharmaceuticals.

To pass, a product must abide all of these regulations (where applicable).

• All mineral production must be initiated through non-pollutant means, such as molecular furnaces and bioengineered extraction lifeforms.
• All chemical production must be zones designated as 'orbital industry areas', 'non-protected ecological areas'¹⁾ or using bioengineered synthesis lifeforms.
• The manufacturing process must not release more than an allocated quota of carbon, methane and any other compounds deemed harmful to life or the local ecosystem, as determined by the Ministry of Ecology.

To pass, a product must abide all of these regulations (where applicable).

• The manufacturing process must be:
  • Safe for Iromakuanhe lifeforms, with no negative long or short-term effects caused by the by-products or processes of manufacture.
  • Will be automated where the above requirement cannot be fulfilled.
  • Will be under the care of a proper drone technician and operator where the above requirement is fulfilled.

Compensation:

• Products which do not satisfy one only of the requirements will not receive the 11% sales tax mandated by the Ministry of Ecology.
• Products which satisfy all requirements will receive a tax reduction of 6% over the standard sales taxes, payed for by the Ministry of Ecology.

Punishments:

• Products, or the raw materials used in their creation, which have been determined to be harmful to the sustainability of an environment or safety of Iromakuanhe lifeforms will not be approved for sale or distribution.
• Products which do not satisfy two or more of the requirements in the V.I. Act, but are approved for sale, will be subject to an additional 11% sales tax.