Recognition as environmental expert in soil corrosion

To be recognised as an ‘environmental expert in soil corrosion’, you must fulfil:

• general recognition conditions(opens in new window) that apply to all recognitions relating to the environment
  • in the 3 years that precede the application for the Flemish recognition certificate, the applicant has not been convicted of a criminal offence in a member state of the European Economic Area, for infringements of the environmental legislation concerning the use of the recognition.
  • in the 2 years that precede the application for the Flemish recognition certificate, no recognition with the same object was revoked due to infringement of the obligations associated with that recognition.
• special recognition conditions:
  • be a natural person
  • hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a subject stated in annex 5 of the ‘VLAREL’ (in Dutch)(opens in new window) or an equivalent certificate
    • having at least 1 year’s practical experience in the field of soil corrosion, obtained within the 5 years preceding the application for recognition
  • or have obtained at least a secondary education qualification or an equivalent certificate
    • having at least 5 years’ practical experience in the field of soil corrosion, obtained within the 10 years preceding the application for recognition.

Validity period and obligations

The recognition is valid for an indefinite period. As an ‘environmental expert in soil corrosion’, you must meet the following obligations among others to retain your recognition:

• hold insurance for third-party liability, including professional liability, in connection with the use of the recognition
• pay the annual fee (in Dutch). The first payment is to be made in the year following the year in which you obtained the recognition. Failure to pay the annual fee will lead to automatic suspension of the recognition following a formal notice of default. If the fee is not paid within 30 days of the suspension, the recognition will automatically lapse

More info on the obligations for recognised environmental experts (in Dutch)

Request your recognition from the Department of Environment and Spatial Development of the Flemish administration.

• Download the application form (in Dutch)(Word file opens in new window) and fill it in.
• Transfer the one-off fee to Account No. BE40 3751 1110 2263 stating ‘OMG-A-MDB + your first name and last name.
• Submit all the documents to the Flemish administration.
  • submit your application and receipt via the online recognition desk (in Dutch) of the Department of Environment and Spatial Development ( click on “Ga naar het erkenningenloket”; log in with eID or eIDAS).
  • If you do not have a Belgian eID,
    • you can log in at the online recognition desk with eIDAS (in Dutch) if your country is connected through eIDAS;
    • or you can submit your application by registered letter to Departement Omgeving, Koning Albert II-laan 15/bus 551, 1000 Brussel, to the attention of Team Expertise, Afdeling GOP.

The competent unit handles your application and consults a number of bodies for an opinion. If necessary, additional info will be collected and a hearing organised. The leading official of the Department of Environment and Spatial Development reaches a decision within 90 days, starting from the day after the submission of the complete application file.

You must pay a one-off fee for handling the application for recognition as ‘environmental expert in soil corrosion’.

• For 2023, the one-off fee is 681 euros.

As a recognised ‘environmental expert in soil corrosion’, you must pay an annual fee (in Dutch) for the supervision of the recognition. You will receive an invoice for this by post at the start of the calendar year in your name at your official address.

• For 2023 the annual fee amounts to EUR 136.

Flemish regulation on environmental recognitions (VLAREL)