ACR+ member Wallonia issued a new decree on environmental crime, which came into force on 1 July 2022. Environmental infractions will now be punished by fines up to EUR 200,000. Polluters could also be sanctioned through hours of community service to make them aware of the need to preserve the environment or animal welfare. Restoration of the affected environment could also be imposed. This new regulation intensifies the fight against waste dumping, water, air and soil pollution and animal welfare violations, in an effort to increase the financial and technical means to fight environmental crime. EUR 1,7 million have been allocated to intensify the work of prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and repression, in order to hire and train new staff, and to purchase new tools and solutions.

Source: www.wallonie.be (in French)