

Austria |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82201] |
Radiation protection measures restructured and updated – 29-Jul-2020 [82453] |
Reorganisation and addition of safety standards for protection from the dangers of ionising radiation adopted – 17-Jun-2020 [81835] |
Bahrain |
Companies carrying out activities entailing risk to the surrounding environment can expect increased enforcement of environmental regulations – 08-Jul-2020 [81669] |
Belgium |
Amended Cooperation agreement on the prevention and management of packaging waste adopted – 15-Jul-2020 [82535] |
BRUSSELS-CAPITAL REGION: Deadlines for (re-)application for environmental permits extended due to COVID-19 outbreak – 16-Jun-2020 [81697] |
Facilities involved in transport of dangerous goods of class 7 can benefit from the extended deadline for completing the practical training for its radiation protection agents leading the physical control service due to the COVID-19 outbreak – 12-Jun-2020 [81836] |
FEDERAL: Criteria updated for reporting significant events concerning radiation protection and/or the safety of workers, the public and the environment to the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control – 03-Aug-2020 [82820] |
FLEMISH REGION: Facilities can use standard procedure when submitting digital EWSR (EVOA) transport notification at OVAM as of 1 August 2020 – 10-Jul-2020 [82094] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82202] |
Bulgaria |
Compulsory EIA for all facilities operating installations for waste incineration and co-incineration or testing new methods for waste treatment adopted – 19-Jun-2020 [81337] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82203] |
Croatia |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82214] |
Czech Republic |
Companies carrying out listed activities must monitor emissions of additional substances and report them to the Integrated Pollution Register – 29-Jul-2020 [82360] |
Companies constructing new buildings subject to stricter energy efficiency rules as of 1 September 2020. – 05-Jun-2020 [81131] |
Drivers of dangerous goods vehicles have to hold a dangerous goods transport certificate – 30-Jun-2020 [81736] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82205] |
Denmark |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82207] |
Estonia |
Facilities operating heating and air-conditioning systems to comply with new energy efficiency measures as of 1 July 2020. – 30-Jun-2020 [81855] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82208] |
Structural changes to the Environmental Board as of 1 January 2021 without substantive change for facilities – 10-Jul-2020 [81995] |
European Union |
Commission Decision amending Decision 2007/589/EC in order to include new monitoring and reporting guidelines for GHG emissions published – 21-Sep-2011 [82738] |
Companies operating aircraft subject to the EU emissions trading system (ETS) do not have to surrender allowances for incoming flights from aerodromes in Switzerland to aerodromes in the EEA – 21-Jul-2020 [82791] |
Companies producing, importing or exporting hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) exceeding specified quantities have to report additional information – 26-Jul-2017 [82802] |
Directive amending Council Directive 80/181/EEC on units of measurement published – 07-May-2009 [82805] |
Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (codified version) adopted – 30-Nov-2009 [82804] |
Electronic templates pursuant to the monitoring and reporting and guidelines for GHG emissions under the EU ETS for aviation activities available – 23-Apr-2009 [82745] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82210] |
Member States competent authorities to monitor the presence of 9 substances in water resources – 06-Aug-2020 [82458] |
Method to calculate recycling efficiency for waste batteries and accumulators adopted – 01-Dec-2011 [82803] |
The EU Transaction Log updated following notifications on changes to the national allocation tables of several Member States and the UK – 19-Jun-2020 [81963] |
Finland |
Companies may now be granted state support for improving the status of water bodies – 26-Jun-2020 [81575] |
Finland implemented ICAO-TI 2019-2020 with updates to requirements for transporting of dangerous goods by air – 12-Jun-2020 [81627] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82211] |
Strengthened requirements for qualification and training of lorry and bus drivers in Finland – 24-Jul-2020 [82958] |
France |
Companies giving unsold items to charity exempted from VAT regularisation – 17-Jun-2020 [81915] |
Companies operating in mixed-use buildings can access from their energy supplier information on their heating and cooling consumption of their heating installation semi-annually – 21-Jul-2020 [82305] |
Companies operating non-collective water sanitation systems have to submit a more thorough application file to be authorised to operate – 02-Jul-2020 [81802] |
Companies operating non-road mobile machinery are monitored for their emissions of polluting gases and particles – 11-Jun-2020 [81174] |
Companies operating water treatment facilities benefit from a simplified administrative regime – 02-Jul-2020 [81919] |
Extended deadlines to set up a protection system against malicious acts when operating sources of ionising radiation – 18-Jul-2020 [82063] |
Facilities must comply with new requirements related to the inspection of the heat and air conditioning system – 31-Jul-2020 [82345] |
Facilities must comply with new requirements related to the inspection of the heat and air conditioning system – 31-Jul-2020 [82536] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82212] |
Large boilers systems between 4 kilowatts and 20 megawatts have to comply with a more thorough inspection and maintenance procedure – 31-Jul-2020 [82513] |
Large boilers systems between 4 kilowatts and 20 megawatts have to comply with a more thorough inspection and maintenance procedure – 31-Jul-2020 [82708] |
Tertiary buildings must comply with new automated heat regulation systems – 21-Jul-2020 [82042] |
Thresholds and substance table for wastewater discharges measured in water streams (canals, watercourses and marine waters) updated to include several new substances – 02-Jul-2020 [81796] |
Germany |
BW: Companies have to adapt lighting installations in public places in an insect-friendly manner – 30-Jul-2020 [82384] |
Calculation of amount of renewable energy surcharge amended and capped for 2021 and 2022 – 24-Jul-2020 [82379] |
Companies can expect a right to compensation if electricity prices increase due to coal exit – 13-Aug-2020 [82543] |
Companies have to pay higher fees for chimney sweeping and inspection services and can apply for reduced sweeping of certain solid-fuel furnaces – 08-Jul-2020 [81739] |
Contact restrictions prolonged and temporary simplification of approval procedures implemented – 28-May-2020 [81243] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82206] |
New Act on the Saving of Energy in Buildings merges and repeals Act on Energy Saving and Renewable Energies Heat Act – 13-Aug-2020 [82801] |
Requirements on information about waste characteristics and authorized waste on waste landfills adapted – 03-Jul-2020 [81760] |
Wastewater discharge requirements for wood materials, chemicals and non-ferrous metals industries updated – 23-Jun-2020 [81822] |
Greece |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82213] |
Hungary |
Companies classified as lower-tier, upper-tier or below the lower-tier facilities depending on the quantities of dangerous substances present on-site must carry out annual training regarding the prevention of major industrial accidents – 01-Jul-2020 [82661] |
Companies could be subject to stricter GHG emissions and energy consumption rules in future following the start of the Government’s work on achieving updated targets including full climate neutrality by 2050 – 03-Jun-2020 [81842] |
Companies may be required to comply with bans or restrictions on single-use plastics from 2021 and will benefit from lower environmental product fee to be paid based on biodegradable plastic carrier bags – 03-Jul-2020 [82609] |
Companies operating certain types of equipment, such as gas cylinders, storage tanks of hazardous liquids or pressure equipment must comply with updated requirements – 16-Jul-2020 [82636] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82215] |
International |
Companies can temporarily use in the rail transport of dangerous goods tanks, pressure receptacles, closed cryogenic receptacles and portable tanks and UN MEGCs with an expired inspection or pressure test – 05-Jun-2020 [81115] |
Training certificates of safety advisers for the rail transport of dangerous goods expired between 1 March and 1 November 2020 remain valid until 30 November 2020 – 05-Jun-2020 [81108] |
Ireland |
Companies applying for licenses in relation to certain developments must comply with additional obligations for the environmental impact assessment process. – 29-May-2020 [81496] |
Companies obliged to display a site notice and newspaper notification when applying for or reviewing an industrial emissions license must include expanded information where the application requires an environmental impact assessment report. – 29-May-2020 [81330] |
Companies obliged to display a site notice and newspaper notification when applying for/reviewing an integrated pollution control license must include expanded information where the application requires an environmental impact assessment report. – 29-May-2020 [81306] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82216] |
Israel |
Companies can benefit from several regulatory easements adopted in connection with the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID 19) – 25-Mar-2020 [81263] |
Various certificates and permits automatically extended for 10 weeks due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) – 30-Jun-2020 [81576] |
Italy |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82217] |
Italy extends validity period of the state of emergency due to the Coronavirus disease pandemic – 30-Jul-2020 [82069] |
Large companies face stricter rules on mandatory energy efficiency audits in line with EU requirements – 14-Jul-2020 [81801] |
Jordan |
Companies must obtain an environmental permit depending on the classification of the activities undertaken in their facilities – 16-Aug-2020 [82773] |
Companies that handle hazardous materials and waste must comply with new provisions providing a general framework for their management – 16-Aug-2020 [82647] |
Kuwait |
Companies that burn or emit natural or associated gas must comply with new prohibitions, limits and reporting requirements – 05-Jul-2020 [81538] |
Companies that burn or emit natural or associated gas must comply with new prohibitions, limits and reporting requirements – 05-Jul-2020 [81776] |
Lithuania |
Companies to draw up a pollutants location scheme and mark stationary sources of air pollution as of 1 May 2020 – 20-Jan-2020 [81440] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82218] |
Luxembourg |
Companies can benefit from financial incentives to use low emission vehicles – 20-Jun-2020 [81483] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82219] |
Malta |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82221] |
Netherlands |
Amended Environmental Management Act provides new definitions and changed conditions, such as bio-waste, extended producer responsibility and end-of-waste and by-products, among other things, following EU regulation – 27-May-2020 [82061] |
Facilities falling under the 4th trading period under the EU ETS must draw up an activity level report, newcomers to the EU ETS must submit a monitoring methodology plan, following the amended Rule on Trade in Emission Allowances – 09-Jun-2020 [81433] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82222] |
Poland |
Annual percentage of the energy coming from renewable sources that facilities are to confirm with the redeemed certificates of origin for 2021 published – 27-Aug-2020 [83027] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82223] |
Portugal |
Companies involved in the cutting down, thinning, or scavenging of trees and on the traceability of timber materials must present a statement of intent for the cut down of trees before proceeding to these activities – 30-Jun-2020 [82702] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82224] |
Licensing procedures for major changes to industrial facilities manufacturing medical devices, PPE, ethyl alcohol or biocidal disinfectants simplified – 15-Jul-2020 [82697] |
Portuguese government to adopt measures to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions – 10-Jul-2020 [82753] |
Revised requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by road and railway in Portugal – 08-Jun-2020 [82074] |
Romania |
Companies must comply with updated health and safety measures, and some companies may benefit of fiscal incentives in light of the COVID-19 pandemic – 16-May-2020 [81107] |
Companies operating in the field of waste of electric and electronic equipment are encouraged by state incentives to prevent and reduce waste generation of EEE. – 04-Jul-2020 [81840] |
Company carrying out activities that generate greenhouse gas emissions must comply with updated requirements in order to obtain the mandatory authorization for greenhouse gas emissions for 2021-2030. – 12-Jul-2020 [82047] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82225] |
Manufacturers, importers or exporters of biodegradable and compostable bags, must comply with updated technical requirements for the bags’ identification – 04-Jun-2020 [81828] |
Saudi Arabia |
Facilities carrying out activities that could potentially negatively impact the environment must comply with additional environmental protection measures – 22-Jul-2020 [82097] |
Slovakia |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82228] |
Slovenia |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82227] |
Thresholds for environmental interventions subject to the preliminary procedure (PP) raised – 27-Jul-2020 [83057] |
South Africa |
Employers that operate mining sites must develop a code of practice to mitigate or manage outbreaks of COVID-19 on the work premises – 18-May-2020 [81321] |
Vehicle operation permits deemed expired during the national lockdown period are now temporarily valid – 22-Jul-2020 [82081] |
Spain |
Companies shipping waste within Spain subject to additional obligations – 19-Jun-2020 [81678] |
End-of-waste criteria adopted for recovered paper and cardboard for recycling – 21-May-2020 [81582] |
Further restrictions adopted for the disposal of waste in landfills – 08-Jul-2020 [82101] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82209] |
MADRID: Periodic measurements of sulphur dioxide no longer required for emissions produced during gas oil combustion – 03-Aug-2020 [82135] |
Sweden |
As of 1 January 2022 failure to report hazardous waste records in Sweden can result in environmental sanctions – 01-Jul-2020 [82827] |
Changes to waste tax regime as of 1 January 2021 – 27-Jun-2020 [81737] |
Environmental permit requirements eased for certain operations to meet needs during the coronavirus – 27-Jun-2020 [82638] |
Further sustainability disclosure obligations adopted for financial and non-financial companies – 22-Jun-2020 [82226] |
Obligations of waste producers specified in and definitions added to the Environmental Code as of 1 August 2020 – 26-Jun-2020 [82115] |
Recycling and waste reporting requirements for producers of packaging and waste paper specified as of 1 August 2020 – 02-Jul-2020 [82366] |
Stricter requirements for the energy performance of buildings as of 1 September 2020 for companies commissioning construction work – 05-Jun-2020 [81437] |
Updated requirements to include information on building and demolition waste in inspection plans as of 1 August 2020 – 02-Jul-2020 [82062] |
Updated Waste Ordinance introduces strengthened requirements for hazardous waste and building and demolition waste – 25-Jun-2020 [82013] |
Updated Waste Ordinance introduces strengthened requirements for hazardous waste and building and demolition waste – 25-Jun-2020 [82141] |
Turkey |
Radiation emergency management requirements introduced – 18-Jun-2020 [81241] |
SEVESO facilities must prepare a major accident scenario document – 30-Jun-2020 [81452] |
Updated requirements related to internal emergency for upper-tier establishments published – 11-Aug-2020 [82623] |
United Arab Emirates |
Facilities carrying out activities that could potentially negatively impact the environment must comply with updated requirements on environmental clearance and environment impact assessments – 01-Aug-2020 [82484] |
United Kingdom |
Companies must remove equipment containing PCB from use by end of 2025 at the latest – 05-May-2020 [81102] |