Box 30945 2500 GX THE HAGUE The Netherlands . The Dutch Activities Decree (Activiteitenbesluit) determines which notifications and permits are necessary. Immigration and Naturalisation Service, IND, Tax and Customs Administration, Belastingdienst. Businesses in the Netherlands have to deal with environmental regulations concerning such issues as noise, energy, waste, air and soil quality. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies. If might be that you not only have to notify the authorities about your business's substantial environmental impact, but also need to apply for an all-in-one permit for physical aspects, for instance with regard to building. This act sets out an integrated approach to environmental management in the Netherlands and provides the legal framework by defining the roles of national, provincial or regional, and municipal government. Roles and responsibilities of Central Government, Roles and responsibilities of provincial government, municipal governments and water authorities, The System of Environmental Regulations in the Netherlands. The Activities Decree contains environmental regulations, especially for companies. Some 80% of Dutch legislation on the environment is derived from EU legislation. The Dutch Activities Decree (Activiteitenbesluit) determines which notifications and permits are necessary. The decree contains rules per type of environmentally harmful activity (e.g. The System of Environmental Regulations in the Netherlands This page contains a brief explanation of the Dutch system of environmental regulations applicable to companies.

It depends on the classification of your company: ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’. The Activities Decree online module helps you in determining which rules apply to your company.

You are subject to the Activities Decree and must notify the municipal authority of your commercial activities. The environmental regulations apply if a company has all of the following characteristics: 1. it is a company or something the size of a company 2. its activities take place in one location and not in multiple locations 3. the activities have a duration of at least six months or return regularly to the same location 4. the activities are listed in Annex I of the Decr… However, related conditions may be attached to environmental permits. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT Text of the Environmental Management Act dated 1 May 2004 ... P.O. This means you will receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks. You do not have to notify your local authority if your business is non-polluting - this applies, for example, to schools and offices. Rijkswaterstaat Environment performs various knowledge and implementation tasks relating to the environment. You do not need to submit an environmental management notification or to apply for an all-in-one permit for physical aspects (omgevingsvergunning).This applies for instance to office-based firms, banks, various care institutions, GP practices and playgroups. This applies to various activities, such as waste water management, agricultural activities, some industrial processes, transport, storage and transfer of goods. The Decree is applicable to all companies in the Netherlands unless they have little or no impact on the environment. If you want to know which Activities Decree regulations apply to your agricultural sector, your agricultural activities or to a specific environmental theme, please find an overview of these regulations on InfoMil Knowledge Centre's website (in Dutch). The Netherlands contributes to the development of EU policies on the environment and to other policy areas with either direct or indirect bearing on creating a sustainable living environment in Europe and the Netherlands. The environmental regulations are usually found in the Activities Decree and/or in the 'All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects'. If your business does pollute, but only minimally, you need to submit an environmental notification to the local authority.

In controlling odour nuisance, you must use the best available technology (BAT). If the environmental impact of your company stays within the limits set by the original permit, for this modification usually the normal procedure applies. This is an explanation of the Dutch environmental regulations for companies. If you submit an environmental management notification or an application for an integrated environmental permit, the municipal or provincial authorities will take into account the extent of odour nuisance caused by your business. Environmental permit and notification of environmental policy These conditions may contain the obligation to forward a copy of the audit reports to the competent authority. metal processing) and by type of environmental impact (e.g.

This is the case for, for example, many shops.

The website government.nl gives information in English about Dutch environmental policy: Rijkswaterstaat Environment is part of Rijkswaterstaat, the executive of policies and regulations of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.

Most environmental regulations for companies can be found in the Activities Decree and/or in a permit. In that case you are required to submit both notification and licence application simultaneously. Rijkswaterstaat Environment also manages programmes for other clients than the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, such as local authorities and other ministries. Even though fair enough, Geert Wilders is no reference.However, the country is not doing that good in terms of renewable energy. You can submit the notification of environmental management also online via Message Box. Businesses in the Netherlands have to deal with environmental regulations concerning such issues as noise, energy, waste, air and soil quality. In other, more complex cases, you require an environmental permit from the local or provincial authority. The national Environmental Management Act, which sets out how the environment is to be protected, is based on EU legislation and regulations. You will need an all-in-one permit for physical aspects. At the province of Noord-Brabant, you can use Message Box to apply for an All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects. You must submit the notification when you set up, change or expand your business. You might need to apply for a modification of your permit when circumstances with regard to your company or your company's management have changed. Netherlands law does not contain a general requirement to conduct environmental audits. In addition to the Activities Decree and the permit, a company may also be subject to various other regulations.

Please note that this module is in Dutch only. It depends on …

But other regulations may also apply. Category A: your company has no or negligible impact on the environment, Category B: your company’s environmental impact is substantial, Category C: your company’s environmental impact is extensive, Online application procedure via Message Box, Applying for an all-in-one permit for physical aspects (omgevingsvergunning), Find more information on our contact page, Activities Decree (Rijkswaterstaat Environment), Activities Decree Internet Module (AIM) (Knowledge centre InfoMil, in Dutch), Environment: EU legislation (Government of the Netherlands), EU Best Available Techniques reference documents (BREFs, European Union), Environmental issues in the construction sector, Environmental issues in the agricultural sector, Environmental issues in the manufacturing sector, service counter all-in-one permit for physical aspects. If your business is subject to the European Industrial Emissions Directive (successor to the IPPC Directive), you also need this permit. The Netherlands is the 5 th richest country in the European Union with a high trust in its institutions – well, as much as people nowadays trust in institutions as some representatives themselves bash them. If you plan to start a commercial greenhouse business, want to extend or change your business or want to change the amount of any discharges, you have to notify your water board through the Activities Decree online module (Activiteitenbesluit Internet Module, AIM). You can also submit the environmental management notification via AIM.

Business.gov.nl is the Dutch Point of Single Contact for entrepreneurs. Environmental Management Act Almost all national legislation on the environment is incorporated in the Environmental Management Act. What is an environmental permit? This page contains a brief explanation of the Dutch system of environmental regulations applicable to companies. For more information, contact your local municipal authority. noise). The environmental regulations are usually found in the Activities Decree and/or in the 'All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects'. You must comply with the general rules of the Activities Decree.

Most companies do not need a permit for environmental aspects. You can obtain this permit from your municipal or provincial authority through the service counter all-in-one permit for physical aspects (Omgevingsloket Online, OLO). Many environmental regulations do not apply to companies that have little or no impact on the environment. Resource Management Act 1991 - primary environmental legislation, outlining the government's strategy of managing the "environment, including air, water soil, biodiversity, the coastal environment, noise, subdivision, and land use planning in general"