Investigation centres for the area of the BBodSchG Recognition
The soil protection law of the Federal Republic of Germany provides that the qualification of experts and testing bodies can be recognised by a competent authority.
Specially qualified persons (experts) or testing centres (testing laboratories and samplers) can apply for recognition in a federal state. This recognition is then valid nationwide. The procedure to be followed depends on the law of the federal state in which the application for recognition is made. If this state does not have its own state law recognition procedure, it is governed by the law of the state in which the procedure is carried out.
Once the procedure has been completed, you will receive a written decision.
Recognised experts and examination centres are also announced in the online research platform ReSyMeSa so that interested parties can contact these service providers.
Responsible department
In Baden-Württemberg, the competent authority for the recognition of experts and investigation centres in accordance with Section 18 sentence 1 of the Federal Soil Protection Act is the Baden-Württemberg State Institute for the Environment (LUBW).
Details
Prerequisite
A prerequisite for the recognition of testing centres according to § 18 sentence 1 of the Federal Soil Protection Act (BBodSchG) is a valid accreditation according to DIN EN ISO 17025 with the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) for the testing areas applied for.
Procedure
Recognition as an investigation centre must be applied for in writing to the Baden-Württemberg State Institute for the Environment (LUBW). The application form and other forms required for the application (declaration of commitment, procedure lists) can be requested informally at the e-mail address Post-ASUS@lubw.bwl.de or downloaded under"Recognition of research centres".
The Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Württemberg (LUBW) checks the completeness of the application documents and confirms receipt of the application in writing or by e-mail. If documents are missing, the LUBW will request that they be submitted within a reasonable period of time.
After receipt of the complete application documents and if all requirements have been met, the LUBW will issue a notice of recognition within six months.
Deadlines
The recognition of inspection bodies ends after five years at the latest if no application for renewal is submitted. The application for renewal must be submitted six months before the current recognition expires.
The processing period for the State Institute for the Environment Baden-Württemberg (LUBW) is six months after receipt of the complete documentation for recognition.
Required documents
When applying for initial accreditation of inspection bodies, the following documents must be submitted:
- Accreditation documents (accreditation notice, accreditation certificate with annex, last assessment report),
- Application form
- Declaration of commitment,
- Declaration of consent for the storage and processing of personal data and the publication of the recognition on the ReSyMeSa search platform (included in the application form),
- List of procedures,
- CVs and certificates of good conduct of the laboratory management and their deputies
- Proof of liability insurance
- current organisation chart
The following documents must be submitted for an extension of recognition as an examination centre, provided that the above-mentioned documents from the initial application are up to date:
- Application form
- Procedure lists
- Declaration of commitment
- latest DAkkS assessment report
All other documents from the initial application do not have to be submitted again if it is ensured that the documents submitted to LUBW from the initial application are up to date.
Costs
A fee is charged for the recognition of testing bodies (testing laboratories and samplers), the withdrawal and rejection of an application and the extension and revocation of recognition. The fee is charged according to the cost and scope of the recognition procedure.
The fee is set in accordance with Sections 4 and 7 of the State Fees Act (LGebG) of 14 December 2004 (GBl. S 895) in conjunction with Section 10.1 of the Ordinance of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Food and Rural Areas on the Fees of the Baden-Württemberg State Institute for the Environment, Measurements and Nature Conservation (Fee Ordinance - LUBW) of 1 December 2006 (GBl. No. 15, p. 387), as amended.
Processing time
The processing time depends on the scope of the recognition procedure, but is a maximum of six months.
Miscellaneous
During the recognition period, the testing centre is obliged to regularly participate in quality assurance measures (round robin tests). The round robin tests are usually announced at the beginning of the year by the LUBW and in the ReSyMeSa database.
The recognition of the test centres is usually valid for five years. However, the competent body can revoke it at any time if the requirements and conditions for recognition are no longer met.
Legal basis
Gesetz zur Ausführung des Bundes-Bodenschutzgesetzes (Landes-Bodenschutz- und Atlastengesetz - LBodSchAG):
- § 6 Sachverständige und Untersuchungsstellen
Verordnung des Umweltministeriums über Sachverständige und Untersuchungsstellen für Bodenschutz und Altlasten (BodSchASUVO)
Gesetz zum Schutz vor schädlichen Bodenveränderungen und zur Sanierung von Altlasten (Bundes-Bodenschutzgesetz-BBodSchG):
- § 18 Sachverständige und Untersuchungsstellen
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Umweltministerium Baden-Württemberg, 10.12.2025