BAT conclusions
Also known as BBT-conclusies
What does "BAT conclusions" mean under the IED?
A document containing the parts of a BAT reference document laying down the conclusions on best available techniques and emerging techniques, their description, information to assess their applicability, the emission levels associated with those techniques, the environmental performance levels associated with those techniques, the content of an environmental management system including benchmarks, associated monitoring, associated consumption levels and, where appropriate, relevant site remediation measures
Defined in / by
- IED (32010L0075), Article 3, point (12), as replaced by Directive (EU) 2024/1785
Last updated: 14 October 2026.
Where the IED becomes concrete for a sector
BAT conclusions are where the IED becomes concrete for a sector. They are adopted as Commission decisions under Article 13(5), and Article 14(3) makes them the reference for setting permit conditions. Their publication starts the clock: within four years of publication of decisions on BAT conclusions relating to an installation's main activity, all its permit conditions are reconsidered and, if necessary, updated (Article 21(3)).
Directive (EU) 2024/1785 widened what they contain. The 2010 text covered best available techniques, their description, information to assess their applicability, the emission levels associated with them, associated monitoring, consumption levels and site remediation measures. The definition now adds emerging techniques, the environmental performance levels associated with the techniques, and the content of an environmental management system including benchmarks.
The date 1 July 2026 matters for the transition. Under Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2024/1785, BAT conclusions published after that date start the four-year periods for applying the amended permit provisions to existing installations, with 1 September 2036 as the latest date for installations already permitted.
Questions and answers
What do BAT conclusions contain since 2024?
Besides best available techniques and their emission levels, they cover emerging techniques, the environmental performance levels associated with the techniques, and the content of an environmental management system including benchmarks.
What happens to a permit when new BAT conclusions are published?
Within four years of publication of decisions on BAT conclusions relating to the installation's main activity, all permit conditions are reconsidered and, if necessary, updated (Article 21(3)).
Regulations
Industrial Emissions Directive (IED 2.0)
The revised Industrial Emissions Directive is Directive (EU) 2024/1785. Member States had to transpose it by 1 July 2026, and none had notified full transposition by 25 September 2026. Operators need an environmental management system by 1 July 2027, and large pig and poultry farms follow from 2030. The Dutch bill is before the Eerste Kamer.
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