Update on New Environmental Regulations in Europe

The following overview provides the Update on New Environmental Regulations in Europe, United Kingdom and Middle East with the indicative title in English, date of adoption and the Enhesa reference number. 

From January 2020 to April 2020, many new regulations of interest to industry were adopted or published in Europe, United Kingdom and Middle East. Noted below are many of these significant regulatory developments.  

Interested in getting specialised insight into the EHS laws and policies forecasted for the rest of 2020? Download our Regulatory Forecaster Whitepaper at www.enhesa.com/baywhitepaper 

For any other question please contact us at www.enhesa.com/baycontactus 

• Belgium 
• BRUSSELS-CAPITAL REGION: Procedural deadlines for permit (re-)applications and other procedures have been suspended for 1 month  – 02-Apr-2020  [79455] 
• FLEMISH REGION: Additional exemptions and adjusted procedures for area permit applications applicable to facilities operating in the public health sector  – 24-Mar-2020  [78946] 
• FLEMISH REGION: Adjusted procedural time limits and obligations applicable for area permit applications and environmental impact assessment procedures (COVID-19)  – 30-Mar-2020  [79117] 

• Croatia 
• Companies using water and/or emitting wastewater subject to stricter water permit application requirements   – 22-Jan-2020  [78265] 
• Emission trading system requirements (ETS) remain unchanged but are now covered by the new Law on Climate Change and Ozone Layer Protection  – 27-Dec-2019  [77966] 
• Facilities discharging wastewater to submit a report on the verification of correctness of their wastewater discharge flow-meters to the Croatian Waters Authority once every 5 years   – 10-Mar-2020  [78658] 
• Operational requirements for companies generating air emissions remain unchanged under the new Air protection act OJ 127/2019  – 27-Dec-2019  [77981] 

• Czech Republic 
• EU ETS rules updated in order to make the system less complicated  – 03-Jan-2020  [77879] 
• Updated rules on energy audits and less strict rules for small heating and HVAC systems and certain types of buildings.  – 10-Jan-2020  [78079] 

• Denmark 
• Companies can no longer give away carrying bags for free at a place of sale for goods or products  – 29-Jan-2020  [78329] 
• Companies operating under CO2 quotas must pay an increased fee on public administrative costs  – 17-Dec-2019  [77839] 

• Egypt 
• Executive Regulation for Mineral Resources Law issued in Egypt  – 14-Jan-2020  [78088] 

• Estonia 
• Companies having activities involving water, waste, air pollution, ionizing radiation, or hazardous waste can now apply for 1 single environmental permit.   – 21-Dec-2019  [78342] 
• Facilities storing waste have to provide proof of financial security in Estonia  – 21-Dec-2019  [78537] 
• New trading system permit requirements as of 1 January 2020 for facilities operating with stationary emission sources in Estonia  – 21-Dec-2019  [78650] 

• European Union 
• The EU Transaction Log updated following notifications on changes to the national allocation tables of several Member States and the UK  – 13-Feb-2020  [78455] 

• Finland 
• Conditions of financial support for remediation of contaminated sites specified  – 11-Dec-2019  [77828] 
• Higher tax for liquid fuels as of 1 August 2020  – 31-Jan-2020  [78141] 
• Reviewed Decree on external emergency plans for special risk facilities issued together with guidance  – 20-Dec-2019  [77744] 

• France 
• Allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances for 2013-2020 amended  – 11-Jan-2020  [77922] 
• Allowance of greenhouse gasses for the 2013-2020 period amended  – 22-Feb-2020  [78555] 
• Classified installation declared under rubric 1978 must comply with VOC and solvents emission thresholds  – 17-Jan-2020  [78011] 
• Classified installations under rubrics 3510, 3531, 3532, 3550 and 3710  of the authorisation regime of the classified installation nomenclature must comply with BAT (Best Available Techniques) on their waste management  – 21-Feb-2020  [78554] 
• Classified installations under rubrics 3510, 3531, 3532, 3550 and 3710  of the authorisation regime of the classified installation nomenclature must comply with BAT (Best Available Techniques) on their waste management  – 21-Feb-2020  [79169] 
• Companies delivering, using, distributing or making available single-use plastic items have to replace these items with ones containing bio-sourced materials  – 27-Dec-2019  [77696] 
• Companies to comply with less stringent zone determination for occupational exposure to sources of ionising radiation.   – 01-Feb-2020  [78202] 
• Companies to comply with less stringent zone determination for occupational exposure to sources of ionising radiation.   – 01-Feb-2020  [78409] 
• Facilities operating with the ‘GEREP’ declaration must modify their annual declaration concerning pollutant and wastes release and transfer  – 10-Jan-2020  [78416] 
• Facilities transporting dangerous goods can now open packages of water treatment products in Intermediate Bulk Containers and fuels intended for combustion engines during transport  – 21-Dec-2019  [77694] 
• Manufacturers and companies placing on the market waste generating products to comply with stricter waste emission targets and an extended product responsibility  – 11-Feb-2020  [78339] 
• Minor amendment to the Order on identification of asbestos  – 30-Jan-2020  [78137] 
• Residual water treatment installations must develop an environmental management system to comply with new Best Available Techniques   – 27-Mar-2020  [79173] 
• Revised Sulphur threshold applicable to marine combustible  – 27-Feb-2020  [78664] 

• Germany 
• Bay: New Bavarian Immission Control Act adapts to changes made in the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG)  – 10-Dec-2019  [78317] 
• By: Authorities can confiscate necessary materials and order the production of certain medical equipment during health emergency  – 25-Mar-2020  [79330] 
• Climate Protection Act and Emissions Trading Act come into force as part of the governments Climate Protection Program 2030  – 19-Dec-2019  [78108] 
• German States declare strict measures to stop increase of Covid-19 cases  – 16-Mar-2020  [78674] 
• Large companies with low energy use exempt from full energy audit requirements  – 25-Nov-2019  [77754] 
• Requirements for discharges from small sewage treatment plants with CE marking amended  – 12-Mar-2020  [79042] 
• SA: Safety of Furnaces and Assembly Rooms adapted  – 10-Jan-2020  [78316] 

• Hungary 
• Additional obligations for transmission system operators  – 15-Dec-2019  [77787] 
• Additional obligations for transmission system operators  – 15-Dec-2019  [78023] 
• Clear categories for licenses in the field of distance heating introduced  – 15-Dec-2019  [77805] 
• Clear categories for licenses in the field of distance heating introduced  – 15-Dec-2019  [78022] 
• Companies acting as electricity distributor licensees and distance heating providers must provide additional data  – 15-Dec-2019  [77777] 
• Companies can benefit from increased clarity on the categories of construction professionals  – 15-Dec-2019  [77811] 
• Emission allowances issued from 1 January 2013 onwards are valid indefinitely  – 03-Feb-2020  [78264] 
• New planning direction values introduced for odours   – 19-Dec-2019  [77993] 
• Obligatory sampling and analytical examination for owners of special wastewater cleaning equipment  – 15-Dec-2019  [77800] 
• Remaining environmental and nature damages now notified through liquidator to the authority  – 17-Dec-2019  [77994] 
• Remaining environmental and nature damages now notified through liquidator to the authority  – 17-Dec-2019  [78024] 

• Israel 
• Companies must comply with emergency measures taken in relation to COVID-19  – 25-Mar-2020  [79270] 

• Italy 
• Companies face less severe sanctioning measures concerning administrative requirements due to COVID-19 outbreak  – 03-Mar-2020  [78548] 
• Companies that produce, acquire, or import certain single use plastic products soon required to pay plastic tax  – 14-Jan-2020  [77874] 
• Companies to benefit from extended deadline for submitting the Single Environmental Notification Form (MUD)   – 17-Mar-2020  [78741] 
• Operators of equipment containing fluorinated GHG face updated sanctions for violations of rules on containment, use, labelling, and recovery  – 02-Jan-2020  [77862] 

• Lebanon 
• More detailed procedures for owners of hazardous waste storage facilities in Lebanon  – 30-Jan-2020  [78090] 
• More detailed procedures for owners of hazardous waste storage facilities in Lebanon  – 30-Jan-2020  [78607] 
• More detailed procedures regarding certain obligations of hazardous waste generators introduced   – 02-Jan-2020  [77816] 
• More detailed procedures regarding certain obligations of hazardous waste generators introduced   – 02-Jan-2020  [78053] 
• New framework for the management of hazardous waste in Lebanon  – 19-Sep-2019  [77808] 
• Obligations for transporters of hazardous waste further detailed  – 02-Jan-2020  [77837] 

• Luxembourg 
• Authorisation for activities involving ionising radiation remain valid amidst coronavirus pandemic  – 01-Apr-2020  [79449] 
• Authorised facilities benefit from an extended deadline to report their activities  – 19-Mar-2020  [79426] 

• Malta 
• Companies to face updated energy performance requirements for new and refurbished buildings  – 03-Apr-2020  [79508] 

• Netherlands 
• Facilities owning or renting a non-residential building must comply with energy performance requirements, inspection requirements for heating or air-conditioning systems and the availability of electrical charging points for electric vehicles  – 09-Mar-2020  [78762] 
• Imported waste subject to taxation and tax rates for the supply of energy increased as of January 2020  – 27-Jan-2020  [77730] 
• Risk calculation program assessing the risk of certain activities, used when (re-)applying for an Area permit, updated to incorporate scientific research data in the calculations  – 28-Feb-2020  [78571] 
• The Dutch government can now take measures to tackle the nitrogen problem and restore the permit procedure for activities causing nitrogen deposition in Natura 2000 areas  – 30-Dec-2019  [77749] 

• Romania 
• Change in the quota for the purchase of green certificates for electricity suppliers in 2020  – 20-Dec-2019  [77774] 
• Companies emitting noise must use the EU harmonised methods for noise assessment  – 06-Dec-2019  [77815] 
• Companies have to face a simplified and more comprehensive reporting procedure to the Environmental Fund 
    – 13-Feb-2020  [78229] 
• Reform of legislation on the authorisation for the use of water for industrial purposes  – 23-Jul-2019  [77917] 

• Slovakia 
• More stringent requirements on landfilling and incinerating, waste definitions and updates for the collection of waste introduced  – 27-Dec-2019  [77825] 

• Slovenia 
• Nationwide ban on the movement and gathering of people in public places and areas in Slovenia  – 29-Mar-2020  [79138] 
• Transitional period for the Rules on groundwater status monitoring for landfill operators extended to 31 December 2020  – 13-Dec-2019  [77826] 

• Spain 
• ARAGON: Companies can consult the programme on inspection of wastewater discharges to municipal sewerage networks and wastewater treatment stations for 2020  – 31-Jan-2020  [78399] 
• ARAGON: Companies can consult the updated prices on the public waste management services in the Autonomous Community of Aragon for 2020  – 31-Jan-2020  [78400] 
• BASQUE COUNTRY: Companies polluting soil are subject to streamlined declaration and reporting procedures  – 22-Jan-2020  [78358] 
• BASQUE COUNTRY: Companies that have to register environmental-related activities or data online must do it through the information system Ingurunet  – 27-Jan-2020  [78375] 
• BASQUE COUNTRY: Companies that have to register environment-related activities or data online must do it through the information system Ingurunet  – 27-Jan-2020  [78997] 
• Building owners to comply with further energy efficiency, fire safety and radon mitigation obligations as of June 2020  – 27-Jan-2020  [78158] 
• CATALONIA: The use of petroleum coke and coal as fuel for industrial stoves and boilers is restricted as of 1 January 2020.  – 28-Nov-2019  [78395] 
• CATALONIA: The use of petroleum coke and coal as fuel for industrial stoves and boilers is restricted as of 1 January 2020.  – 28-Nov-2019  [78405] 

• Sweden 
• BAT conclusions on waste treatment implemented into Swedish law  – 02-Apr-2020  [79358] 
• Plastic carrier bag excise tax introduced in Sweden as of 1 March 2020  – 06-Feb-2020  [78287] 
• Updated fees for services provided by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority as of 24 January  – 23-Dec-2019  [77887] 
• Waste incineration taxed as of 1 April 2020  – 17-Dec-2019  [77761] 

• United Kingdom 
• Companies involved in the offshore production or exploration of petroleum will have to pay a production and non-production levy.   – 04-Mar-2020  [78579] 
• Companies involved in the offshore production or exploration of petroleum will have to pay a production and non-production levy.   – 04-Mar-2020  [79269] 
• Companies will no longer be subject to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme beyond March 2019 but must continue to maintain records  – 08-Jul-2018  [78049] 
• EU Emissions Trading System 2019 carbon price set at GBP 12.61  – 30-Nov-2018  [78220] 

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