As Euwid reports, the German Federal Cabinet recently approved a draft bill to implement the Industrial Emissions Directive.

The aim of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED 2.0) is to transpose European requirements for the protection of people and the environment into national law while at the same time creating investment incentives for industry, according to the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN). The regulations are to apply to facilities in the energy sector, the chemical industry, and numerous waste treatment plants. According to the BMUKN, the implementation package now passed by the cabinet already incorporates some of the proposals from the EU omnibus package to simplify environmental regulations in the area of industrial emissions. The draft bill also provides for extensive measures aimed at simplifying and accelerating approval procedures. According to the information provided, flexible framework permits for chemical plants and higher thresholds are also planned, so that construction projects will be subject to mandatory environmental impact assessments less frequently in the future. In addition, the limits for pollutant emissions are to be adapted more closely to climate-friendly technologies. Companies that can demonstrate that they are preparing for the transition will be granted a deferral of up to eight years for certain requirements. The law passed by the cabinet must now be approved by the Bundestag. It will then be submitted to the Bundesrat together with an accompanying regulation for the implementation of the IED.
 
The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) criticizes the Federal Cabinet's decision on the national implementation of the IED and complains that the Federal Government is not waiting for the results of the upcoming EU simplification procedure. According to the VCI, this is precisely where key requirements of the IED are to be relaxed. Germany was now changing national law, which may have to be corrected again shortly thereafter. The VCI believes that the national implementation of the IED should be better coordinated with the ongoing EU procedure.
 
Sources:

• VCI press release (21.1.2026)
• euwid-recycling.de (22.1.2026)
• Photo: © Wim van Teinde / Unsplash (symbolic image)