In order to be able to appoint experts to inspect systems for handling substances hazardous to water on behalf of your expert organization, you must apply for recognition. You apply for recognition for your expert organization at the competent authority of the country in which the head office of your organization is to be located. Recognition is valid for the whole of Germany.

Once your expert organization has been recognized, experts can work on its behalf:

• Inspect installations for handling substances hazardous to water,
• prepare expert opinions as part of suitability assessments and
• certify or monitor specialist companies.

For the recognition of an expert organization, you must

• name a natural person authorized to represent the organization,
• appoint a technical director and a deputy,
• appoint a sufficient number of experts,
• establish principles that must be observed during system inspections,
• establish an operational quality assurance system,
• take out liability insurance for soil and water damage for the activities of your experts,
• declare that the countries in which the experts carry out inspections are exempted from any liability for the activities of your experts.

If your organization has been recognized in another member state of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), foreign recognition can be treated as equivalent to German recognition. The prerequisite is that foreign recognition is equivalent and verifiable. You may have to submit certified copies and translations to the competent authority for this process.