Waste, Noise, Industrial Emissions, Chemicals and Pollution: the Environment Agency Carried Out 418 Inspections in 2025

In 2025, the Environment Agency (AEV) carried out 418 inspections across Luxembourg to verify compliance with environmental legislation. These inspections were conducted at physical and online points of sale, at companies and industrial installations, as well as along major roads. A total of 446 complaints relating, in particular, to waste, noise, vibrations and pollution were submitted to the Environment Agency. Approximately half of these complaints originated from citizens, while the other half were submitted by other public authorities or the Grand Ducal Police. Overall, AEV inspectors carried out 231 on-site interventions and 187 administrative inspections.

Industrial emissions

Under the amended Law of 9 May 2014 on industrial emissions, the Environment Agency (AEV) carried out 19 regular inspections and one unannounced inspection of the installations concerned in 2025. These inspections aimed to verify compliance with legal obligations relating to the control of emission sources.

Chemical substances and biocidal products

Everyday Consumer Products

The Environment Agency inspected 325 consumer products sold through physical and online points of sale in order to verify their chemical composition, labelling and the required authorisations.

In 2025, inspections focused in particular on:

• tattoo inks,
• sex toys, 
• children's rainwear, 
• electrical devices, 
• children's toys.

As a result of these inspections, 34 products had to be withdrawn from the market due to non-compliance.

Biocidal products

As part of a European project, inspectors from the Environment Agency checked pest control products, more specifically rodenticides, sold in various retail outlets.

The inspections focused on the summary of product characteristics, product labelling, and compliance with the authorisation required for placing these products on the market in Luxembourg. Of the 49 biocidal products inspected, 28 were found to be non-compliant. 10 products lacking the necessary authorisation were prohibited from being placed on the market. In addition, 18 products showed minor non-compliances, while four products contained inconsistencies in their summary of product characteristics.

Volatile Organic Compounds

As part of the legislation aimed at reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the Environment Agency inspected:

• varnishes, 
• paints, 
• vehicle refinishing products.

Of the 31 products inspected, 5 did not comply with the requirements of the Grand-Ducal Regulation on the reduction of volatile organic compound emissions, while 3 products showed non-compliances related to classification, labelling and packaging. Fluorinated Gases and Ozone-Depleting Substances

Fluorinated Gases and Ozone-Depleting Substances

Under the legislation governing fluorinated greenhouse gases and substances that deplete the ozone layer, the Environment Agency carried out an inspection campaign involving 27 companies engaged in:

• the installation,
•  the commissioning,
• the maintenance of refrigeration equipment.

Non-compliances were identified in 17 companies, notably with regard to staff certification, the labelling of gas cylinders, and the maintenance of records documenting mandatory leak checks.

Waste

In 2025, 29 inspections of shipments of waste were carried out at strategic locations near the borders, in cooperation with the Customs and Excise Agency and the Grand Ducal Police.

Inspectors from the Environment Agency checked 1,976 vehicles, of which 364 were transporting waste, by verifying shipment documentation, the identity of the persons involved and the nature of the waste being transported. These inspections led to the detection of 111 infringements, resulting in 109 administrative penalties amounting to approximately €25,869 and the drafting of two official reports. 

Purpose of inspections

Compliance checks under the current legislation are an integral part of the Environment Agency's (AEV) mandate, which aims to protect human health and the environment, ensure adherence to legal and regulatory provisions as well as permit conditions, and oversee market surveillance.

Inspections are systematically accompanied by targeted awareness-raising campaigns for the companies concerned.

Areas of responsibility

The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring compliance with laws in various areas, including:

• IED (Industrial Emissions Directive), transposed into national law by the amended Law of 9 May 2014 on industrial emissions: periodic inspections of establishments falling within the scope of the relevant legislation, in particular those covered by Annex I thereto
• Chemical substances contained in products
• Proper labeling and classification of products containing chemical substances
• Safety data sheets for chemical substances and mixtures
• Registration and authorisation of the production and use of chemical substances
• Marketing authorisations for biocidal products
• Handling of internal and external complaints on various issues (pollution, noise, air pollution, etc.)
• The form for submitting an environmental complaints is available on Guichet.lu.
• Waste shipments
• Extended producer responsibility (for packaging, electronic and electrical waste, and batteries)

Press release by the Environment Agency