Credit: AEV
In 2018, the Luxembourg Customs and Excise Administration carried out, at the request of the Environment Administration, checks on establishments in the agricultural sector.
The first plant inspections, carried out in the framework of a cooperation agreement signed between the Customs and Environment Administrations, began on 31 July 2018 and the campaign ended in April 2019.
The checks focused on the compliance of the safety devices installed on the pipes of slurry storage tanks. In practice, the agents checked whether the number of valves corresponded to the legal requirements and whether the valves of the tanks were correctly closed and locked with the aid of an appropriate lock or padlock in compliance with current legislation.
Regarding the legal framework, pipes below the maximum filling level of a slurry tank must be equipped with two safety valves to prevent them from being accidentally opened in accordance with the provisions of the Grand-Ducal regulation of 26 July 1999 laying down general requirements for establishments in the agricultural sector which fall in class 4 (from classes 1, 3 and 4) for classified establishments and those for ministerial orders issued under the amended law of 10 June 1999 on classified establishments.
The officers inspected a total of 61 facilities. In a first inspection, only 24 of these facilities were in compliance with legislation. The Minister of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development subsequently invited the operators of the 37 other facilities to comply within a certain time. After the expiry of these deadlines, the agents of the Customs and Excise Administration once again inspected the establishments in question.
The control campaign ended on 5 April 2019 with the observation that all non-compliant establishments have come into compliance.
