Environmental rules - Belgium

Updated 12/2012

• European Union
• Austriadeen
• Belgiumenfrnl
• Bulgariabgen
• Cypruselen
• Czech Republiccsen
• Denmarkdaen
• Estoniaenet
• Finlandenfi
• Franceenfr
• Germanydeen
• Greeceelen
• Hungaryenhu
• Irelanden
• Italyenit
• Latviaenlv
• Lithuaniaenlt
• Luxembourgenfr
• Maltaen
• Netherlandsennl
• Norwayenno
• Polandenpl
• Portugalenpt
• Romaniaenro
• Slovakiaensk
• Sloveniaensl
• Spainenes
• Swedenensv
• United Kingdomen

Legal requirements

Environmental Control

Waste Management

Business waste management is primarily organised at the regional level. Waste incineration is also regulated within the three regions.

• Business waste

Waste may not be incinerated in the Brussels-Capital Region without authorisation; dumping of shredded waste is also prohibited. Furthermore, hazardous waste must be collected as a 'controlled risk' and disposed of in facilities provided for this purpose.

• What to do with waste? What is hazardous waste? - Brussels Enterprise Agency
• Waste - Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment - IBGE

The Walloon Waste Disposal Office is responsible for collecting waste to be disposed of or recycled.

• Walloon Waste Disposal Office
• Waste - Wallonia Environmental Portal

In Flanders, the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) is responsible for waste management and soil clean-up.

• The Public Waste Agency of Flanders
• Waste - EMIS - Information system on the environment and energy

Climate and the Air

The competent bodies for climate and the air are:

• The Brussels Institute for Environmental Management (IBGE) - Brussels-Capital
• Walloon Agency for Air and Climate - Wallonia
• The Department of Environment, Nature and Energy - Flanders

You can find more information in real time on the quality of air in the three Regions (as well as predictions for the following days) on the website of the Interregional Cell for the Environment (CELINE-IRCEL):

• Interregional Cell for the Environment (CELINE-IRCEL)

Protection Against Noise

The competent bodies with regard to protection against noise are:

• The Brussels Institute for Environmental Management (IBGE) - Brussels-Capital
• The Division of Prevention and Authorisations - Wallonia
• The Department of Environment, Nature and Energy - Flanders

Nuclear Safety

The Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) promotes effective protection of the population, workers and the environment against the dangers of ionizing radiation.

• Federal Agency for Nuclear Control
• General Regulations - FANC

Businesses are free to go beyond the minimum environmental legal requirements at their own initiative.

• Sustainability — Belgium

Administrative procedures

Declaratory Proceedings

Urban Planning and Housing

The Urban Planning and Housing Administration is in charge of administering urban planning permits in the Brussels-Capital Region.

• Urban Planning and Housing Administration - Brussels-Capital Region
• Procedure to obtain an urban planning permit
• Application for urban planning permit [257 KB]              

The Urban Planning and Housing Administration is in charge of administering urban planning permits in the Walloon Region.

• Urban Planning and Housing Administration- Walloon Region
• Urban planning permits
• Application forms

The competent body for urban planning in Flanders is the Flanders Regional Planning Agency, which is also in charge of administering urban planning permits.

• Flanders Regional Planning Agency
• Application forms

Waste Management

The IBGE provides the forms relating to waste for the Brussels-Capital Region online.

• Application forms

The Directorate General for Natural Resources and the Environment provides the forms relating to waste in the Walloon Region.

• Application forms

The Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) provides the forms relating to waste in the Flanders region.

• Forms (keyword ‘waste')

Chemicals

The Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment provides the forms relating to chemicals.

• Chemical substances

Water

The IBGE provides forms relating to water catchments and the declarations required to set the price for industrial waste-water treatment.

• Forms - water catchment
• Waste-water treatment-related forms

The Directorate General for Natural Resources and the Environment provides the forms relating to water in the Region of Wallonia.

• Application forms       

The Flemish Water Supply Company (VMW) and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) provide information and application forms relating to water in the Flanders Region.

• Flemish Water Supply Company
• Application forms

Permits and licences

Environmental permits

An environmental permit is required for many types of activities and construction. To find out what steps to take, you must first determine the category that contains your business.

• Class 1, 2 and 3 establishments: definition
• Forms - Environmental permits         

The administrative procedures for obtaining environmental permits vary by region. All applications must be submitted in the municipality in which your business is located.

• Environmental permits in Flanders
• eMIL - Guide to environmental permits in Flanders
• Environmental permits in Wallonia
• Environmental permits - Brussels Enterprise Agency

Inspections

Urban Planning and Housing

The bodies responsible for inspections relating to town planning and urbanism are:

• Urban Planning and Housing Administration - Brussels-Capital
• Department of Planning and Urban Development - Wallonia
• Town and Country Planning, Housing Policy and Immovable Heritage - Flanders

Waste Management

The DG Environment is responsible for protecting consumers at the federal level. Inspections serve both as deterrent and in a punitive role toward businesses.

• Federal Environment Inspectorate

The law provides for inspections and fines in the event of non-compliance with waste legislation.

• Waste - IBGE - Brussels-Capital
• Wallonia Environmental Portal
• The Department of Environment, Nature and Energy (LNE) - Flanders

Chemicals

The DG Environment is responsible for monitoring compliance with legislation on the marketing of dangerous substances and preparations at the federal level.

• Federal Environment Inspectorate

Nuclear Safety

The Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (AFNC) covers any situation involving risk from exposure to ionizing radiation to workers, the public or the environment.

• Federal Agency for Nuclear Control

Resources

Brussels-Capital

The Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment provides guides, forms and information to entrepreneurs.

• Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment

‘Brussels Environment ’ is the agency for the environment and energy in the Brussels-Capital Region.

• Brussels Environment’

Wallonia

The Wallonia Environmental Portal the Medium and Small Business Union (UCM) website and the Walloon Business Federation (UWE) website provide brochures, information, publications, forms and a number of environment-related links.

• Wallonia environment portal
• Medium and Small Business Union (UCM)
• Walloon Business Federation (UWE)

Flanders

The Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) provides a range of information on waste management and soil clean-up.

• The Public Waste Agency of Flanders

The Enterprise Flanders portal provides information on environmental allowances.

• Enterprise Flanders

The EMIS portal provides information on environmental standards.

• EMIS

The Flanders Department of Environment and Infrastructure provides information on the environment and legislation in the Region of Flanders.

• Environment and Infrastructure

Programmes

To encourage your company to respect the environment, the Brussels-Capital Region set up consulting services and support for environmental investment.

• Support for companies and the self-employed

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

• European Union
• Austriadeen
• Belgiumenfrnl
• Bulgariabgen
• Cypruselen
• Czech Republiccsen
• Denmarkdaen
• Estoniaenet
• Finlandenfi
• Franceenfr
• Germanydeen
• Greeceelen
• Hungaryenhu
• Irelanden
• Italyenit
• Latviaenlv
• Lithuaniaenlt
• Luxembourgenfr
• Maltaen
• Netherlandsennl
• Norwayenno
• Polandenpl
• Portugalenpt
• Romaniaenro
• Slovakiaensk
• Sloveniaensl
• Spainenes
• Swedenensv
• United Kingdomen