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The Environment Agency announced it carried out 289 inspections across Luxembourg in 2023, in points of sale, businesses, industrial installations and on major roads; 340 complaints were filed by citizens, other administrations, the Grand Ducal Police and others.

According to the Environment Agency, 51% of complaints came from private individuals. To follow up on these complaints, which mainly concerned noise, vibrations and pollution, the agency’s agents intervened 150 times in the field. 172 checks were carried out at the administrative level.

25 regular inspections were carried out in 2023 to verify whether the industrial installations covered by the amended law of 9 May 2014 relating to industrial emissions (IED law) comply with their obligations in terms of the sources of the installation's emissions.

Chemicals and products

102 everyday items were checked in 51 points of sale to verify their chemical composition, labelling and required authorisations: toys, jewellery and sports accessories. 40 products were non-compliant and withdrawn from sale.

In collaboration with the Customs and Excise Agency, agents of the Environment Agency checked 578 biocidal products at 33 points of sale: insecticides, repellents, baits, etc. The 266 non-compliant products were withdrawn from sale. Around half of the non-compliances consisted of poor labelling, only seven products were problematic in terms of composition.

The controls concerned:

  • identification of the biocidal product (product name, biocidal claims, active substances);
  • the compliance of the notifications or authorisations required for any marketing or use in Luxembourg of the biocidal product;
  • labelling compliance.

In the context of fluorinated greenhouse gases and substances that deplete the ozone layer, the Environment Agency carried out compliance checks on refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment in 45 companies. All the companies presented non-compliance, whether in terms of personnel certifications, the labelling of gas bottles or even in the register of mandatory leakage checks. 25 of the 45 companies have since complied and the Environment Agency will monitor the compliance of the remaining companies. These controls will be maintained in 2024.

Waste

In 2023, eighteen waste transfer controls were carried out at strategic locations near the borders, in collaboration with the Customs and Excise Agency and the Grand Ducal Police. Environment Agency agents checked the documents, the identity of the people, but also the nature of the waste transported. 243 of the 1,006 vehicles checked transported waste. 171 offenses were noted and officers issued 164 tax warnings worth approximately €31,000.

Controls over the application of current legislation are part of the missions of the Environment Agency whose objective is to protect human health and the environment, to monitor compliance with legal and regulatory provisions, as well as those set out in the authorisations and to assume market surveillance. The controls are systematically accompanied by targeted awareness-raising work aimed at the companies concerned, the Environment Agency added.