Permit for polluting businesses - VLAREM

Diamond workshops are in view of pollution divided into three different classes by VLAREM I, which is the applicable Regulation with respect to environmental permits as agreed by the Flemish Government.  The rules set out by VLAREM I are very extensive, so it is advisable to seek assistance from specialised lawyers in order to guarantee compliance.

VLAREM I divides three classes of polluting companies:   

Class 3: least polluting, no permit required, but notification is mandatory.  Your workshop will be a Class 3 workshop when the power used is 5 kW up to and including 200 kW  when the workshop is situated in an industrial area, or 5kW up to and including 100 kW, when the workshop is not situated in an industrial area. The mandatory notification must be sent by registered mail to the local municipality.  The form can be found here: notification form class 3.

Class 2: polluting workshop, permit required.  Your workshop will be a Class 2 workshop when the power used is more then 200 kW up to and including 1000 kW, when the workshop is situated in an industrial zone and more then 100 kW up to and including 500 kW, when the workshop is situated somewhere else. The application needs to be submitted to the municipality where the workshop will be situated. Please find the form on the website from the Department of Environment, Nature and Energy by following this link: application form.  The application form also mentions which additional documents need to be added to the application.  Since these can differ between all types of companies and situations, it is advisable to closely study the small print on the forms. The application will be granted or rejected within a period of 3,5 months.

Class 1: very polluting, permit required: > 200 kW. Your workshop will be a Class 1 workshop when the power used is more than 1000 kW, when the workshop is situated in an industrial zone and more then 500 kW when the workshop is situated somewhere else. The application needs to be submitted to the municipality where the workshop will be situated.  You can find the application form on the website from the Department of Environment, Nature and Energy by following this link: application form.  The application form also mentions which additional documents need to be added to the application.  Since these can differ between all types of companies and situations, it is advisable to closely study the small print on the forms.  The application will be granted or rejected with a period of 4,5 months.

Please consult VLAREM I with respect to the additional documents which are required for submission, and which can vary depending on the circumstances.