Decree 15-2024
Congreso Nacional
- Decree: 15-2024
- Published: March 13, 2024
- Issuing body: Congreso Nacional
- Gazette: 36,484
- Category: Commercial
Summary
This decree declares Black Matrix Opal as Honduras's National Gem to protect and promote this unique precious stone found nowhere else in the world. It orders the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines to create support programs to industrialize, process, and market opal, benefiting citizens and the national economy.
Considerations
That the Constitution of the Republic in its Article 172 establishes that "All anthropological, archaeological, historical and artistic wealth of Honduras forms part of the Cultural Heritage of the Nation. The Law shall establish the norms that will serve as the basis for its conservation, restoration, maintenance and restitution, as applicable. It is the duty of Hondurans to watch over its conservation and prevent its removal, sites of cultural beauty, monuments and reserved zones shall be under the protection of the State".
That in accordance with Article 340 of the Constitution of the Republic, the technical and rational exploitation of Natural Resources is declared to be of public utility and necessity, likewise the regulation of their use, in accordance with social interest, setting the conditions for their grant to private parties because industry and commerce on a small and large scale constitute the heritage of Hondurans, for which their protection is an objective of law.
That Honduras since colonial times has been known as a country possessing large deposits of different varieties of Opals and that by means of Legislative Decree No. 119-2008 of September 9, 2008, published in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta" in Edition number 31,805 dated January 7, 2009, reserved areas are created exclusively for the exploitation of Opal in Honduras by residents of the zones of the department of Lempira, with the objective of maintaining economic benefits solely among the communities involved.
That Honduran Opal is a Unique Gem of incomparable natural beauty, and only five (5) countries in the world possess deposits of as much variety of Opals as the Honduran and furthermore it is located in a small geographic region, the department of Lempira, which possesses the availability of the varieties of this Precious Gem that represent great demand worldwide, at least five (5) of these, such as the famous Black Matrix Opal, being the most promising.
That there exists an awareness in the Gems market worldwide and of the existence of Honduras as a potential supplier of Opal Gems of very good quality, taking into account that currently said mineral is exploited, processed and transformed only for artisanal purposes in the national territory, not yet being positioned in the international market despite its high value, quality and market price worldwide.
That it is the duty of the State to establish the mechanisms for the protection, safeguarding and conservation of culture in all its aspects with the purpose of strengthening the country's development.
That in accordance with Article 205 Attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it is within the power of the National Congress to: Create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws.
That the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras in its Article 59 establishes that "The human person is the supreme end of society and the State. All have the obligation to respect and protect it. The dignity of the human being is inviolable".
That it is necessary for the State of Honduras to adopt legislative measures to comply with recommendations in environmental matters, such as that suggested in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which recommended to the State of Honduras to continue giving priority to efforts aimed at the recognition and protection of journalists and human rights defenders.
That by means of Legislative Decree No. 62-2022 of May 27, 2022, published in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta" dated June 18, 2022, the Honduran social and environmental activist BERTHA ISABEL CÁCERES FLORES was elevated to the Category of National Heroine.
That in accordance with Article 205, Attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it is the power of the National Congress: To create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws.
Articles
Declare the BLACK MATRIX OPAL as "NATIONAL GEM" with the objective of creating from this precious stone, unique in the world, national patrimony due to its importance, beauty, price and outstanding cultural value of our nation.
It is declared of national interest, the industrialization, manufacturing, processing, commercialization and cutting of the BLACK MATRIX OPAL "NATIONAL GEM" whose existence as a natural resource in Honduras is unique in the world.
Due to its importance and with the purpose of protecting national industry and economy, the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines (INHGEOMIN) is authorized and instructed to create a Support and Promotion Program for activities related to the value chain of Opal as a mineral and as a precious stone, together with the State Department of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Honduran Institute of Tourism.
The Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines (INHGEOMIN) is instructed to regulate Legislative Decree No. 119-2008 dated September 9, 2008, published in the Official Newspaper "La Gaceta", in Edition number 31,805, dated January 7, 2009, taking into consideration the entire value chain of Opal and its declaration of BLACK MATRIX OPAL "NATIONAL GEM" in order to regulate the transformation of the mineral, guaranteeing that the percentage of exportation of the Honduran Gem cut, polished, shined, processed, transformed and enhanced, be greater than what could be exported of raw black Opal.
This Decree shall enter into force as of the day of its publication in the Official Newspaper "La Gaceta". Given in the city of Tegucigalpa, municipality of the Central District, in the Chamber of Sessions of the National Congress, on the twenty-first day of the month of February of two thousand twenty-four. LUIS ROLANDO REDONDO GUIFARRO PRESIDENT LUZ ANGÉLICA SMITH MEJÍA SECRETARY LINDA FRANCÉS DONAIRE PORTILLO SECRETARY To the Executive Branch. Therefore: Let it be executed. Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., February 28, 2024. IRIS XIOMARA CASTRO SARMIENTO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC THE STATE SECRETARY IN THE OFFICES OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Legislative Branch DECREE No. 17-2024 THE NATIONAL CONGRESS, CONSIDERING: That the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras in its Article 59 establishes that "The human person is the supreme end of society and of the State. All have the obligation to respect and protect it. The dignity of the human being is inviolable". CONSIDERING: That it is necessary for the State of Honduras to adopt legislative measures to comply with recommendations in environmental matters, such as that suggested in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which recommended to the State of Honduras to continue giving priority to efforts aimed at the recognition and protection of journalists and human rights defenders. CONSIDERING: That by means of Legislative Decree No. 62-2022 of May 27, 2022, published in the Official Newspaper "La Gaceta" dated June 18, 2022, the Honduran social and environmental activist BERTHA ISABEL CÁCERES FLORES was elevated to the Category of National Heroine. CONSIDERING: That pursuant to Article 205, Attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it is within the power of the National Congress to: Create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws. THEREFORE,
Related laws
- Agreement 149-2025 by which article one of Agreement No. 057-2025 is reformed — This law reforms a previous agreement on public debt management and issuance of financial instruments (Treasury Notes). It allows the Finance Ministry to issue short-term instruments to cover cash shortfalls during the fiscal year, as long as they are repaid within the same period. (Decree 4-2025, 2025)
- Executive Agreement PCM-020-2022 by which the Solidarity Action Program (PROASOL) is created — This law creates the Solidarity Action Program (PROASOL) as a government entity to help vulnerable groups in the country. It establishes rules for managing vehicles, agricultural schools, human rights, and preventing money laundering in cooperatives, benefiting low-income citizens and rural communities. (Decree 20-2022, 2023)
- Executive Decree PCM 18-2024 by which the declaration of a state of emergency in the national penitentiary system is extended, as well as the validity of Executive Decree Number PCM 28-2023 until December 31, 2024 — This decree extends the emergency status in Honduras' prison system until December 2024, allowing the Armed Forces (PMOP) to continue managing prisons and to directly purchase goods and services without public bidding to address the prison crisis. (Decree 28-2023, 2023)
- Acuerdo Ministerial No. 2346-2024 — Crear los Programas de Salud adscritos a la Dirección General de Riesgos Poblacionales — This agreement creates 14 Health Programs that will report to the General Directorate of Population Risks. These programs will be responsible for establishing standards, regulating health policies, and overseeing that services are properly delivered in areas such as immunizations, chronic diseases, mental health, dental care, and care for vulnerable groups. (Decree 2346-2024, 2024)
- Acuerdo Ministerial No. 2346-2024 — Creación de Programas de Salud adscritos a la Dirección General de Riesgos Poblacionales (Decree 2346-2024, 2024)