Odors: your main obligations

After noise, odors are the second most common source of complaints from local residents. They have been considered by the legislator as part of atmospheric pollution since 1961, with the law of August 2, 1961 relating to the fight against atmospheric pollution and odors. Article 1 ^er of this law stipulated that "industrial, commercial, craft or agricultural establishments must be built, operated or used in such a way as to avoid atmospheric pollution and odours which inconvenience the population".

The law of December 30, 1996 on air and the rational use of energy repealed the provisions of the law of August 2, 1961, but Article 2 retained odors in the definition of atmospheric pollution: "atmospheric pollution is the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, into the atmosphere or enclosed spaces of substances likely to (...) cause excessive olfactory nuisance". This definition now appears in article L. 220-2 of the French Environment Code.

Odor control involves a number of players, and the obligations vary depending on whether your facility is classified or unclassified.

Regardless of the type of facility you operate, there are a number of organizations involved in odor control.