Recognition and notification as an expert in accordance with Section 18 of the Federal Soil Protection Act

The German Act on the Protection against Harmful Soil Changes and the Remediation of Contaminated Sites (BBodSchG) provides for the involvement of experts in several areas. In order to be recognised as an expert in the fields of soil protection and contaminated sites, you must fulfil the following requirements:

1. demonstrate the necessary expertise (qualified training, practical experience, further training)

2. Availability of technical equipment (does not have to be owned, access can be proven via concluded contracts, only in the field of area and site-related recording or historical exploration)

3. Reliability and personal integrity (evidence and declarations of personal, economic and organisational independence)

Experts can be recognised and work in six different subject areas:

1. Areal and site-related recording or historical exploration

2. Hazard assessment for the soil-water impact pathway

3. Hazard assessment for the soil-plant impact pathway, precautionary measures to limit the introduction of substances into the soil and the application and introduction of materials

4. Risk assessment for the soil-human impact pathway

5. Remediation

6. Hazard identification, assessment and defence against harmful soil changes due to soil erosion by water

Once the recognition authority has checked all the requirements and your professional suitability or expertise has been established, you will be recognised and notified by means of a decision and certificate of recognition.

The experts recognised in Baden-Württemberg are published in the cross-state research system for measuring points and experts(ReSyMeSa). If you already have a public appointment in accordance with the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act in the field applied for, this must be taken into account when recognising you as an expert in accordance with Section 18 BBodSchG. In principle, the appointment in accordance with the Trade Regulation Act can be fully taken into account for recognition if it was made on the basis of the "Information sheet on the requirements for experts in accordance with Section 18 BBodSchG (as of December 1999) of the Federal/State Working Group on Soil Protection (LABO)". If the appointment has not been made on the basis of the LABO leaflet, it will be checked whether a simplified procedure can be carried out. This means that there are some experts who, in addition to their public appointment under the German Industrial Code, are also recognised under the Federal Soil Protection Act. Recognitions or authorisations as experts in accordance with § 18 BBodSchG from other federal states are equivalent to those in Baden-Württemberg. A separate confirmation of recognition is not issued.