Krzysztof Zaręba talks with the chief editior Edward Garścia about the activities of Environmental Protection Inspection (IOŚ) in 2003. Poland’s accession to the EU exerted a considerable influence over the workings of the IOŚ last year. The number of inspected sites whose size and activities are environmentally significant rose and it now reaches 50 693. However, many small units worryingly remain outside the Inspection. Still, audits can be triggered off by a tip-off from the public and this usually concerns large breeding farms.