What is it?

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) establishes a system for preventing and controlling pollution generated by certain industrial installations. Its purpose is to prevent or, where this is not possible, reduce and control emissions to air, water and soil, as well as prevent waste generation, applying an integrated approach aimed at achieving a high level of protection of the environment as a whole.

In Spain, the basic legal framework is currently established by Royal Legislative Decree 1/2016, which replaced and consolidated the previous Law 16/2002. The framework is developed, among other provisions, by Royal Decree 815/2013, approving the Regulation on industrial emissions and implementing the legislation on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.

IPPC legislation applies to certain industrial installations falling within its scope and subject to the corresponding capacity thresholds. These installations must have an Integrated Environmental Authorisation (IEA), where applicable, before commencing operation.

The IEA integrates the environmental conditions applicable to the installation and establishes, among other aspects, requirements for controlling emissions and emission limit values. These conditions must take into account the Best Available Techniques (BAT) and the BAT conclusions adopted at European level.

IPPC legislation does not replace occupational health and safety legislation. However, information on emissions, pollutants and industrial processes can be useful for preventive and trade union action, particularly where pollutants or contaminating agents may also result in exposure of workers.

What is its relationship with occupational health and safety?

Environmental information on an installation can provide relevant data for identifying substances and processes potentially associated with occupational exposure.

Information available on emissions, discharges, waste and operating conditions can therefore be used as a complementary source of information to:

1. identify pollutants present or generated at the installation;
2. identify processes that may generate emissions;
3. detect changes in raw materials, processes or technologies;
4. determine whether certain pollutants are subject to environmental controls;
5. consider the need to review the occupational risk assessment;
6. request additional information from the company when there are indications of occupational exposure.

Information from the PRTR or the IEA does not replace the occupational risk assessment or measurements of workers' exposure. The existence of a registered environmental emission does not, on its own, make it possible to determine occupational exposure, but it can provide useful information to guide risk identification and assessment.

Integrated Environmental Authorisation (IEA)

Installations falling within the scope of IPPC legislation must comply with the conditions established in their Integrated Environmental Authorisation.

The IEA may contain information on:

1. processes and activities carried out at the installation;
2. raw materials and substances used;
3. emissions to air;
4. discharges to water;
5. waste generation and management;
6. emission limit values;
7. monitoring and control systems;
8. measures to prevent or reduce pollution;
9. application of Best Available Techniques.

For workers' legal representatives, consulting this documentation can help identify pollutants associated with production processes and raise questions about their possible impact on working conditions.

State Register of Emissions and Pollutant Sources (PRTR-España)

PRTR-España is the State Register of Emissions and Pollutant Sources. It provides access to public information on emissions to air, water and soil from certain installations and on waste transfers.

Information can be consulted by installation or industrial complex, activity sector, pollutant substance, type of waste and geographical area.

PRTR-España is therefore a useful source of information for identifying which pollutants are reported by certain installations and in what quantities.

For trade union action, it can be used as a complementary tool to:

1. identify installations subject to reporting requirements;
2. identify reported pollutant substances;
3. locate potential emission sources;
4. compare environmental information with existing production processes;
5. consider the need to review risks associated with these substances;
6. request information from the company on the preventive measures adopted.

Important: PRTR data are collected for environmental purposes and cannot be used to directly determine individual workers' exposure. Occupational risk assessment must also take into account the risk assessment itself, environmental or personal exposure measurements and all other available preventive information.

New European requirements

The European framework for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control has been updated by Directive (EU) 2024/1785, which amends Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions.

The so-called IED 2.0 strengthens the pollution prevention approach and introduces objectives related to the continuous reduction of emissions, resource efficiency, the circular economy, decarbonisation and the protection of human health and the environment.

The Directive expands and updates certain areas of application and strengthens the role of Best Available Techniques and technological innovation.

Member States were required to adopt the necessary provisions for its transposition by 1 July 2026. In Spain, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has begun the process of adapting national legislation through the preparation of a new legal framework.

Therefore, this section should monitor the Spanish legislation implementing IED 2.0 and its effects on installations subject to Integrated Environmental Authorisation.

New Industrial Emissions Portal

Regulation (EU) 2024/1244 establishes a new European system for reporting environmental data from industrial installations and creates the Industrial Emissions Portal.

This Regulation replaces Regulation (EC) No 166/2006, which established the previous European E-PRTR.

The new system aims to improve the availability, quality, comparability and accessibility of environmental information on industrial installations and their emissions.

Its application will be progressive and is generally scheduled to begin on 1 January 2028.

What can be done?

Workers' legal representatives can:

1. Request information on installations and processes subject to IPPC legislation.
2. Consult, where applicable, the installation's Integrated Environmental Authorisation.
3. Consult the data available through PRTR-España on emissions and waste transfers.
4. Identify pollutant substances associated with production processes.
5. Check whether the identified substances also appear in the occupational risk assessment.
6. Request an assessment of possible occupational exposures where there are indications of risk.
7. Check the measures adopted to eliminate or reduce emissions at source.
8. Promote the substitution of hazardous substances and the use of less polluting technologies and processes.
9. Request information on modifications to installations, processes, raw materials or control systems that may affect working conditions.
10. Use environmental information to support preventive action, without replacing the obligations established by occupational health and safety legislation.

Information resources

PRTR-España — State Register of Emissions and Pollutant Sources — Provides access to information on emissions, waste transfers and installations included in the register.

MITECO — Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control — Information on Integrated Environmental Authorisations, Best Available Techniques, BAT conclusions, combustion installations and the European Industrial Emissions Portal.

European and national legislation. Access to current legislation through the Official State Gazette (BOE) and EUR-Lex, particularly legislation on industrial emissions, Integrated Environmental Authorisations and environmental data reporting.

Legislation and references

1. Royal Legislative Decree 1/2016 of 16 December — approving the consolidated text of the Law on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.
2. Royal Decree 815/2013 of 18 October — approving the Regulation on industrial emissions and implementing the legislation on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.
3. Royal Decree 508/2007 of 20 April — regulating the provision of information on emissions under the E-PRTR Regulation and on Integrated Environmental Authorisations, insofar as its provisions remain applicable.
4. Directive 2010/75/EU — on industrial emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control), as amended.
5. Directive (EU) 2024/1785 of 24 April 2024 — amending Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions.
6. Regulation (EU) 2024/1244 of 24 April 2024 — on reporting of environmental data from industrial installations, establishing an Industrial Emissions Portal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 166/2006.
7. PRTR-España — State Register of Emissions and Pollutant Sources, Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
8. MITECO — information on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, Integrated Environmental Authorisations and Best Available Techniques.

Last update of the document

August 2026