Central
The central government is responsible for:
- Nuclear waste;
- Waste transit through Belgium;
- Product regulations;
- Penalties for environmental matters determined by the criminal courts;
- The control and tracing of environmental violations by federal civil servants (such as state police, court officers and customs);
- Strategies and monitoring frameworks;
- Resource efficiency;
- Biodiversity measures;
- Sustainable development;
- Inspectorate;
- Public consultations on the environment.
Regional
Regional authorities are responsible for:
- Legislation and implementation of policy on the environment and nature conservation, including pollution of soil, water, air, noise pollution;
- Waste policy;
- Noise pollution standards;
- The control over polluting industries;
- The production and supply of water, including technical regulations controlling the quality of drinking water;
- Effluent purification;
- Environmental planning, and
- Waste transit except nuclear waste.
Local
Provinces/Municipalities
Local authorities are responsible for:
- The implementation of the legislation in this field (by the Federal Government or the Regions);
- Services in the environmental sector;
- Water supply;
- Sewerage;
- Day to day services, e.g. in waste collection, and
- The development of environmental protection initiatives, by granting subsidies (provinces).
Responsible ministries/bodies
Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment FPS/FOD
Flemish Department for Living Environment, Nature and Energy
Environment Wallonie
Brussels Environment
Sources:
Constitution of Belgium (Constitution belge texte coordonné du 17 février 1994). In particular Art. 39
Special law of Institutional Reform (Loi Spéciale de réformes institutionnelles du 8 Août 1980). In particular Art. 6, paragraph 1, indent II
The French Speaking Community (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles)
SGI Performance Indicators, Environmental Policies, 2014
