The legal and regulatory environment for use of natural resources is already set up in Mongolia.  For instance, there are laws, regulations, and standards on prospecting, exploration, mining, supervision over the utilizations, and restoration.  However, there is still a gap in law enforcement due to poor interlinks and interrelations.  This gap in law enforcement results in illegal extraction of minerals and avoidance from responsibilities and accountabilities of artisanal miners. Thus, it needs to clearly state the rights and obligations of local administrative and self-governing organizations as well as government organizations in order to regulate informal artisanal mining operations within the legal and regulatory framework.

The Article 3.2 of the Minerals Law, the Sub-Programme of ASM Development up to 2015 that was approved by Government Resolution No: 71 (2008), and agenda (Clause 9) of spring session of Parliament (2009) approved by the Parliament Resolution No: 7 on January 16, 2009 provide justifications for development of the amendments to the Minerals Law. Please download a concept of amendments to the Minerals Law.

Thus, the Minister’s Council of Mineral Resources and Energy had a discussion on the regulation of ASM operations and draft laws on April 23, 2009.  To tackle the existing problems in regulation of ASM operations in the country and follow up the enforcement of recommendations provided by the Minister’s Council meeting, it was decided to establish a working group by the Minister’s order No: 107 on May 1, 2009.  The working group was established and its members drafted amendments to the Minerals Law having reached an agreement on regulations of ASM operations by a set of regulations that is approved by the Government of Mongolia. Please download a briefing statement on draft ASM laws and regulatory proposals.  

In connection to the draft amendments to the Minerals Law, some revisions are drafted to the following Laws:  
- Proposed revisions to the Minerals Law;  
- Proposed revisions to the Law on Taxation of Personal Income derived from Private Business and Service;
- Proposed revisions to the Law on Land;
- Proposed regulations on Extraction of Minerals from Small Scale Mining

All these drafts and proposed revisions to legal acts are being openly discussed by respective government and non-governmental as well as international organizations in the country.