Recognition as EIA expert

To be recognised as an EIA expert, 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the 2 years that precede the application for the Flemish recognition certificate, no recognition with the same object was revoked due to infringement of the obligations associated with that recognition.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
  • having obtained at least a master’s or equivalent degree
    • having at least 3 years’ practical experience in collaborating on the drawing up of environmental impact reports (in a period of 5 years preceding the application for recognition)
  • having obtained at least a bachelor’s or equivalent degree
    • having at least 5 years’ practical experience in collaborating on the drawing up of environmental impact reports (in a period of 7 years preceding the application for recognition)
  • having successfully completed a training course of 60 hours in which the subjects listed in annex 9 of the VLAREL (in Dutch)(opens in new window) are covered. The subjects differ depending on the discipline or the subdomain.
  • if you apply for recognition as EIA expert for the subdomain ‘Noise’ or subdomain ‘Vibrations’, you must be a recognised environmental expert in the ‘Noise and Vibrations’ discipline for the subdomain ‘Noise’ or subdomain ‘Vibrations’.

More info on the obligations for recognised EIA experts (in Dutch) can be found on the Department of Environment and Spatial Development website.

Validity period and obligations

The recognition is valid for an indefinite period. As recognised EIA expert, 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
• report every change of identification data (such as address, e-mail address) immediately via erkenningen.omgeving@vlaanderen.be(opens in your email application)
• pay the annual fee (in Dutch) for the supervision of the recognition. The first payment is to be made in the year following the year in which you obtained the Flemish recognition certificate. 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.

Request your recognition from the Flemish administration.

• Download the application form (in Dutch)(Word file opens in new window) from the Department of Environment and Spatial Development website and fill it in. You can apply for recognition in various disciplines and subdomains.
• Transfer the one-off fee to Account No. BE40 3751 1110 2263 stating ‘OMG-A-MER + your first name and last name.
• Submit the necessary documents and proof of payment to the Flemish administration.
  • If you have a Belgian eID: submit your application and receipt via the online erkenningenloket van het Departement Omgevin(opens in new window)g (click on “Ga naar het erkenningenloket”; log in with eID).
  • If you do not have a Belgian eID, you should submit your application by registered letter to Departement Omgeving, Koning Albert II-laan 20/bus 8, 1000 Brussel, to the attention of Team Erkenningen, Afdeling GOP.

The competent unit will handle your request. This could be followed by a hearing. 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 the one-off fee for the application for recognition as EIA expert.

• For 2024, the one-off fee is:
  • 683 euros for your first discipline if you are not recognised as EIA coordinator
  • 171 euros for your first discipline if you are recognised as EIA coordinator.
  • plus 171 euro for each additional discipline.
• These sums are index-adjusted every year.

You are not required to pay a one-off fee for:

• an application for extending an recognition as EIA expert in a discipline for which the EIA expert is already recognised (additional subdomains)
• an application for recognition as EIA expert in the discipline ‘Noise and Vibrations’.

As a recognised EIA expert, you must pay the 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 2024 the annual fee amounts to 137 euros for your first discipline. And 34 euros for each additional discipline.
• These sums are index-adjusted every year.

Flemish regulation on environmental recognitions (VLAREL).