Do you operate a Class 1 or 2 establishment with an environmental permit in Wallonia? Every company is bound to evolve over time, deploying new activities or simply updating existing facilities. All these conversions must be recorded in a register.
The operation of an establishment includes:
- its installation
- its commissioning
- its extension(s)
- its retention
- its ongoing operation
- its maintenance
- its use
As the operator of a Class 1 or 2 establishment in Wallonia, you undertake to ensure that any conversions or extensions to your establishment do not cause any danger or nuisance to humans, animal welfare or the environment.
As an operator, you are required to keep a register of all conversions or extensions when they:
- affect the description or plans attached to your permit
- are a source of greenhouse gas emissions
You must send this register every year, in principle on the anniversary date of the implementation of your establishment's first permit:
- to the Municipal Board of each municipality in which your establishment is located, and
- to the competent regional Technical Civil Servant
Use the register template provided by the Permits and Authorisations Department of SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment!
Certain conversions or extensions require a new permit application. Please refer to the "Conditions" section below to identify your situation.
Operators of Class 1 or 2 establishments with environmental permits in Wallonia.
By following these simple steps, you can help protect the environment while complying with your legal obligations.
- Keep the register up to date
Record each change in the register. A template to help you create this register is available in the "Forms" section below.
- Submitting the list of conversions or extensions
Send the list of conversions or extensions (register) to the competent Technical Civil Servant and to the Municipal Board of each municipality in which the establishment is located.
- Examination of submitted conversions or extensions
On receipt of the register of conversions or extensions, the Technical Civil Servant and the Municipal Board analyse the changes and decide whether the conversions or extensions require a new environmental permit application.
If this is the case, within 15 working days of receiving the register of conversions or extensions, the Technical Civil Servant and the Municipal Board(s) invite the operator to submit an environmental permit application without delay.
If this is not the case, the register is saved as it is.
The register:
- is completed for each conversion or extension affecting the description or plans appended to your permit and representing a source of greenhouse gas emissions.
- is sent each year, on the anniversary date of the implementation of your establishment's first permit, to the Technical Civil Servant responsible for the area and to the Municipal Board of each municipality where the establishment is located.
The general rule is that, as the operator of a Class 1 or 2 establishment, you must keep a register of all conversions or extensions when they:
- affect the description or plans attached to your permit
- are a source of greenhouse gas emissions
However, certain conversions or extensions require a new environmental permit application if they:
- involve relocating the establishment
- result in the application of a new Class 1 or 2 heading
- are likely to:
- directly or indirectly exacerbate dangers, nuisances or inconveniences to humans or the environment
- adversely affect animal welfare: if the number of animals covered by the permit increases, and if this rise is likely to adversely affect animal welfare.
There is NO register of changes for Class 3 establishments.
If such an establishment is modified, a new declaration must be made for the ENTIRE establishment.
What must the register contain?
The register must include:
- all buildings
- all facilities
- all substance deposits
- all waste deposits
- all water spills and discharges
- all atmospheric emissions from the establishment
and assign them a status in relation to the latest situation known to the authorities (permits issued, registers of conversions or extensions submitted).
This status may be:
- unchanged
- new
- modified
- deleted
Check the template to help you create a register of changes to an establishment in the Forms section.
- Decree of 11 March 1999 on the environmental permit
- Décret du 11 mars 1999 relatif au permis d’environnement)
- Decree of the Walloon Government of 4 July 2002 concerning the procedure and various measures for the execution of the Decree of 11 March 1999 concerning the environmental permit
- Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 4 juillet 2002 relatif à la procédure et à diverses mesures d’exécution du décret du 11 mars 1999 relatif au permis d’environnement