[en] An analytical model for the environmental regulation of agriculture under various aspects, such as the definition of environment, type of agricultural practice, incentives, scale of application and mode of administration, is presented. In a number of cases, technical, scientific, social and economic factors also have to be addressed (especially as regards the notion of uncertainty), which entails taking into account a series of heterogeneous and less obvious aspects. A new typology of institutional settings is therefore drawn up, which emphasizes the constraints present in any regulation. Particular reference is made to the EU.