Who must appoint an emissions control officer?

Operators of the installations requiring a permit listed in Annex I of the 5. BImSchV (Section 1(1)). The authority may also order an appointment in individual cases (Section 53(2) BImSchG).

Can the officer be an outside person?

As a rule the officer must be employed by the operator. On application, the authority should allow an outside officer if this does not endanger the proper performance of the duties under Section 54 BImSchG (Section 5(1) 5. BImSchV).

Must the appointment be notified to the authority?

Yes, without delay, together with the description of the duties; the same applies to changes to the duties and to the dismissal (Section 55(1) BImSchG).

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Stay on top of appointing and training your emissions control officer

A German plant operator appoints the emissions control officer in writing, notifies the authority (Section 55 BImSchG) and must ensure the officer attends further training regularly, at least every two years (Section 9(1) of the 5th BImSchV). Attendance must be proven to the authority on request (Section 9(2)).

Operators of installations requiring a permit appoint one or more emissions control officers (Immissionsschutzbeauftragte) where this is necessary because of the emissions, the technical problems of limiting them or the suitability of the products (Section 53(1) of the Federal Immission Control Act, BImSchG). For the installations listed in Annex I of the 5th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (5. BImSchV), an officer employed by the operator is mandatory (Section 1(1) 5. BImSchV), for example for installations under no. 1.1 of Annex 1 of the Ordinance on Installations Requiring a Permit with a rated thermal input of 150 megawatts or more using solid or liquid fuels. The authority may also order an appointment in individual cases, even for installations that do not require a permit (Section 53(2) BImSchG).

The operator appoints the officer in writing and specifies the duties precisely. The appointment, the duties, changes to them and the dismissal are notified to the authority without delay, and the officer receives a copy of the notification. The works or staff council is informed before the appointment (Section 55(1) and (1a) BImSchG). Only a person with the required expertise and reliability may be appointed (Section 55(2)). Expertise requires a university degree in engineering, chemistry or physics, attendance at officially recognised courses and knowledge gained in two years of practical work (Section 7 5. BImSchV); in individual cases the authority may, on application, also recognise technical college training or a master craftsman qualification with at least four years of practice (Section 8).

The operator ensures that the officer regularly attends further training, at least every two years, including officially recognised courses. The training covers the subject areas in Annex II, and attendance must be proven on request of the authority (Section 9 5. BImSchV). The officer in turn reports to the operator every year on the measures taken and planned (Section 54(2) BImSchG).

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At a glance

Appointment	In writing, duties specified precisely (Section 55(1) BImSchG)
Notification to the authority	Without delay, also changes and dismissal (Section 55(1))
Expertise	Degree, recognised courses, two years of practice (Section 7 5. BImSchV)
Further training	Regularly, at least every two years (Section 9(1) 5. BImSchV)
Proof of training	On request of the authority (Section 9(2))
Report to the operator	Every year (Section 54(2) BImSchG)
Protection against dismissal (employees)	Also up to one year after leaving the role, except for good cause (Section 58(2))

Who is responsible?

The duties lie with the operator: it appoints the officer, notifies the appointment, supports the officer with staff, rooms, equipment and resources and enables attendance at training (Section 55(1) and (4) BImSchG). It ensures training at least every two years (Section 9(1) 5. BImSchV).

If the deadline passes

Attendance at further training must be proven on request of the authority (Section 9(2) 5. BImSchV). If the authority learns of facts showing that the officer lacks the required expertise or reliability, it may require the operator to appoint a different emissions control officer (Section 55(2) BImSchG).

The officer's rights

Before deciding on new processes, products or investments that may matter for emissions control, the operator obtains the officer's opinion in good time (Section 56 BImSchG). The officer may present proposals directly to the management (Section 57) and must not be disadvantaged for carrying out the role (Section 58(1)). The same person may be appointed as emissions control officer and major-accident officer, provided this does not impair the proper performance of the duties (Section 1(3) 5. BImSchV).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add an entry for each emissions control officer and enter the end of the two years since the last training as the due date.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the date and on the day itself.
The officer can upload the attendance certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the plant manager; emails arrive in each recipient's language. If a date passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Add a separate entry for the annual report under Section 54(2) BImSchG.

Frequently asked questions

How often must an emissions control officer attend training?: Regularly, at least every two years, including officially recognised courses (Section 9(1) 5. BImSchV).
Who must appoint an emissions control officer?: Operators of the installations requiring a permit listed in Annex I of the 5. BImSchV (Section 1(1)). The authority may also order an appointment in individual cases (Section 53(2) BImSchG).
Can the officer be an outside person?: As a rule the officer must be employed by the operator. On application, the authority should allow an outside officer if this does not endanger the proper performance of the duties under Section 54 BImSchG (Section 5(1) 5. BImSchV).
Must the appointment be notified to the authority?: Yes, without delay, together with the description of the duties; the same applies to changes to the duties and to the dismissal (Section 55(1) BImSchG).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 1, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for emissions control officer training (5. BImSchV) (Germany)

A ready template for emissions control officer training (5. BImSchV) (Germany) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each emissions control officer training (5. BImSchV) (Germany) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each emissions control officer training (5. BImSchV) (Germany) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.