Find out if your facility needs an environmental permit and how to apply.
Do I need to apply for a permit?
If you produce chemicals you will normally need an environmental permit to operate any processes listed in Chapter 4 of Schedule 1 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations:
This chapter includes:
- Organic chemicals: Including the manufacture of biodiesel;
- Inorganic chemicals: Including chemical fertiliser production;
- Plant health products and biocides;
- Pharmaceutical production;
- Explosives production;
- Manufacturing activities involving carbon disulphide or ammonia;
- The storage of chemicals in bulk.
Depending on the type of regulated facility the permit may be issued from the Environment Agency or Local Authority.
‘Producing chemicals’ means producing, in a chemical plant by chemical processing for commercial purposes, substances or groups of substances listed in the relevant sections of the regulations.
Further information is given in Regulatory Guidance Series EPR 2 Understanding the meaning of regulated facility. You will find a copy of this document on our regulatory guidance page:
How to apply for a permit
The majority of chemical manufacturing operations will require a bespoke environmental permit. However, certain operations may be eligible for a low impact installation permit. The application form contains the qualifying criteria for the low impact installations. You can view this on our application forms and guidance page:
Click on the headings below to find out more about the environmental permitting process:
Find out how to make changes to (vary), transfer or surrender your permit.
Guidance on how to complete your application and help you comply with the conditions of your environmental permit.
You need to fill in the application form if you want to apply for a new permit, or if you want to change, transfer or surrender your permit.
Find out how we consult with the public and relevant organisations on applications for permits.
The Environment Agency must decide whether to grant or refuse the applications on this page. If it grants an application, it must also decide what conditions should be included in the permit.
Further help
If you still aren’t sure whether you need an Environmental Permit, please contact our National Customer Contact Centre on 0370 8506506. If your enquiry is of a technical nature they may pass you to someone in our area offices.
Please be aware that the amount of free time we can spend on pre-application is limited. Please familiarise yourself with the relevant guidance before you call us.
