Industrial Emissions

Prevention and control of industrial emissions

Industrial activities play an important role in the economic well-being of Europe contributing to sustainable growth. However, industrial activities also have a significant impact on the environment.

The largest industrial installations account for a considerable share of total emissions of key atmospheric pollutants and also have other important environmental impacts, including emissions to water and soil, generation of waste and the use of energy.

Emissions from industrial installations have therefore been subject to EU-wide legislation for some time and currently the following main pieces of legislation apply in this field:

• The IPPC Directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control, which sets out the main principles for the permitting and control of installations based on an integrated approach and the application of best available techniques (BAT) which are the most effective techniques to achieve a high level of environmental protection, taking into account the costs and benefits.
• Several sectoral directives, which lay down specific minimum requirements, including emission limit values for certain industrial activities (large combustion plants, waste incineration, activities using organic solvents and titanium dioxide production).

• The Regulation on the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR), which makes accessible to the public detailed information on the emissions and the off-site transfers of pollutants and waste from approx. 24 000 industrial facilities.

The Directive on industrial emissions 2010/75/EU (IED) was adopted on 24 November 2010 and published in the Official Journal on 17 December 2010. It entered into force on 6 January 2011 and has to be transposed into national legislation by Member States by 7 January 2013. The IED replaces the IPPC Directive and the sectoral directives as of 7 January 2014, with the exemption of the LCP Directive, which will be repealed with effect from 1 January 2016.

For any further questions regarding the Industrial Emissions legislation, please contact the Industrial Emissions Unit in DG Environment at the Commission.