Code of Conduct for activities that may harm plants or animals

Will you carry out work that could harm (protected) plants and animals? If so, you may need an environment and planning permit. If you work according to an approved code of conduct, you do not need to apply for an environment and planning permit.

Check if you need an environment and planning permit

There are many activities that can have a negative impact on (protected) plants or animals. For example:

• building or demolishing houses or roads
• placing wind turbines
• conducting research on plants or animals

These are flora and fauna activities (in Dutch) under the Environment and Planning Act. Do you think your activity could harm (protected) plants or animals? Then check in advance whether you need an environment and planning permit. You should:

• check whether protected species are present
• check whether your activity causes harm
• take measures to prevent damage
• use a code of conduct for recurring or predictable activities

You can also follow the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, RVO) step-by-step guide for flora and fauna activities (in Dutch), or do the permit check in the online service counter Omgevingsloket (in Dutch).

Have an environment expert carry out research

When applying for the environment and planning permit, you must engage an environmental expert (in Dutch). They will investigate, among other things:

• whether there are protected plants or animals at the site of your activities
• how you can prevent damage to these animals and plants
• what you can do if the activities are not possible due to the negative consequences

Can you work with a code of conduct?

You do not need an environment and planning permit if you work according to a designated and approved code of conduct (in Dutch). Such a code of conduct sets out how you should work to prevent damage to plants and animals. You can use a code of conduct if you meet the conditions and perform activities listed in that code of conduct.

Some codes of conduct are still to be converted into the Environmental Regulation. Until then, some codes of conduct under the Nature Conservation Act will continue to apply.

Organisations can also draw up a new code of conduct (in Dutch) themselves. To do so, always contact RVO (in Dutch) first. RVO assesses the codes of conduct.

Comply with the Environment and Planning Act

You must comply with the national and provincial rules for flora and fauna activities in the Environment and Planning Act (in Dutch). For example, you must:

• investigate the negative consequences of your activities for animals and plants
• take measures to prevent or remedy those consequences
• immediately warn the authorities if something unexpectedly goes wrong

You may also need other permits. For example, a permit for building, demolition, or felling trees. Do the permit check in the online service counter Omgevingsloket (in Dutch). In the Omgevingsloket you can apply for all permits at once.