There has been an increase in the number of charges for environmental offences that are transmitted by courts to the Flemish administration over recent years, according to recent figures.
In 10 years, some 13,000 administrative fines have been enacted, for a total of 13 million euros.
Since a 2009 decree, environmental violations in the north of Belgium are punishable by an administrative fine in addition to being punished criminally. They are then transmitted by the decision of the prosecutor to the Flemish administration.
In 2018, 2,181 violations — 48% — were sent to the administration. They concerned in particular: garbage dumping, illegal deforestation, hunting or noise offences.
Last year, the average fine amounted to 975 euros.
The Brussels Times
