Doing business in Belgium: Environmental rules
05 March 2012by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 30 March 2012
The following guidlines provide information about the environmental regulations in Belgium that help companies run sustainable businesses without adversely impacting the environment.
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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.
Waste cannot be incinerated in the Brussels-Capital Region without a permit; 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 Wallonia Waste Agency is responsible for collecting waste to be disposed of or recycled.
Wallonia Waste Disposal Office
Waste - Wallonia environment portal
In Flanders, the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) is responsible for waste management and soil cleanup.
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 (AFCN) promotes effective protection of the population, workers and the environment against the dangers of ionizing radiation.
Federal Agency for Nuclear Control
Businesses are free to go beyond the minimum environmental legal requirements at their own initiative.
Administrative procedures
Declaratory Proceedings
Urban Planning and Housing
The Urban Planning and Housing Administration is in charge of urban planning permits for the Brussels-Capital Region.
Urban Planning and Housing Administration
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
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
Waste management
The IBGE provides the forms relating to waste for the Brussels-Capital Region online.
The Directorate General for Natural Resources and the Environment provides the forms relating to waste in the Walloon Region.
The Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) provides the forms relating to waste in the Flanders Region.
Forms (keyword 'waste'/'afval'')
Chemicals
The Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment provides the forms relating to chemicals.
Water
The IBGE provides forms relating to water catchments and the declarations required to set the price for industrial wastewater treatment.
Wastewater treatment-related forms
The Directorate General for Natural Resources and the Environment provides the forms relating to water in the Region of Wallonia.
The Flemish Water Supply Company (VMW) and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) provide information and application forms relating to water in the Flanders Region.
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 what category your business is in.
Class 1, 2 and 3 establishments: definition
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
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
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 (FANC) 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.
Wallonia
The Wallonia environment portal, the Association of the Self-Employed (UCM) website, and the Walloon Business Federation (UWE) website provide brochures, information, publications, forms and a number of links relating to environmental matters.
Association of the Self-Employed (UCM)
Walloon Business Federation (UWE)
Flanders
The Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) provides a range of information on waste management and soil cleanup.
Public Waste Agency of Flanders
The Enterprise Flanders portal provides information on environmental allowances.
The EMIS portal provides information on environmental standards.
The Flanders Department of Environment and Infrastructure provides information on the environment and legislation in the Flanders Region.
Department of Environment and Infrastructure
Programmes
To encourage your company to respect the environment, the Brussels-Capital Region provides support and consulting for environmental investments.
Support to companies and the self-employed
Source: European Commission
