Environmental Noise Directive (END)

EU legislation on sound or pollutant emissions from industrial installations only applies to larger installations under Directive 2010/75/EC. Directive 2010/75/EC regulates noise in a general way: for each industrial sector, “Best available technique REFerence documents” (BREF documents) are elaborated, which are followed by "BAT conclusions". These conclusions are formally adopted by European Commission and are then binding for national authorities which grant permits for the corresponding industrial activity.

For example, BAT conclusions for the manufacture of cement, lime and magnesium oxide under Commission Implementing Decision 2013/163/EU left the option to choose among 19 different techniques.       Also techniques provided for the manufacture of glass under Commission Implementing Decision 2012/134/EU or the refining of mineral oil and gas under Commission Implementing Decision 2014/738/EU       were similarly general. In no case there were any emission limit values or other numerical values indicated in BAT conclusions.