Environmental regulations

Companies in the Netherlands have to comply with environmental regulations. These are based on the Environmental Management Act (Wet Milieubeheer, Wm) and are outlined in such general environmental regulations as the General Rules for Establishments (Environmental Management) Decree (Besluit algemene regels voor inrichtingen milieubeheer) or in an environmental permit (All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects, omgevingsvergunning).

Statutory regulations apply to, for instance:

• Noise and vibrations
• Energy
• Waste materials
• Odour
• Air emissions
• Discharging liquids
• Transport management
• Soil protection
• Hazardous substances

The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive is based on the Environmental Management Act (Wet Milieubeheer) and the Water Act (Waterwet).

Provincial Environmental Bye-laws

The Provincial Environmental Bye-law (Provinciale Milieuverordening, PMV) is based on the Environmental Management Act (Wet Milieubeheer) and the Soil Protection Act (Wet bodembescherming). Each province determines its own bye-law according to a model. The provincial authorities can include supplementary rules for specific environmental problems in the PMV. All PMVs outline the waste materials policy and indicate areas which are environmentally protected against noise and areas where the groundwater is protected.