Industry and the Environment

Environmental Regulation for Industrial Activities under the Environment and Planning Act

With the EPA's entry into force, the concept of 'establishment' has been replaced by environmental impact regulation based on companies' environmentally harmful activities as identified in the Environmental Activities Decree (Besluit activiteiten leefomgeving). The Activities (Environmental Management) Decree (Activiteitenbesluit milieubeheer) has been repealed and site-specific environmental impacts are now regulated in the (municipal) environmental plan rather than in national regulations. In addition to an environmental permit, the environmental plan in most cases will also prescribe a permit for environmental plan activities (or environmental out-of-plan activities). Duties of care will play a more prominent role. The basic premise is to respect existing rights as much as possible.

Our Industry and the Environment factsheet explains the implications of the environment-related changes resulting from the EPA's entry into force and sets out the main practical issues to bear in mind.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts: Marloes Brans, Luurt Wildeboer, Marije Verweij, Jet Akkerman, Felix Kelder or Klaas Valkering.