Best available technology

The best available technology or best available techniques (BAT) is the technology approved by legislators or regulators for meeting output standards for a particular process, such as pollution abatement or pasteurization. Similar terms are best practicable means or best practicable environmental option. BAT is a moving target on practices, since developing societal values and advancing techniques may change what is currently regarded as 'reasonably achievable', 'best practicable' and 'best available'.'best available techniques' means the most effective and advanced stage in the development of activities and their methods of operation which indicates the practical suitability of particular techniques for providing the basis for emission limit values and other permit conditions designed to prevent and, where that is not practicable, to reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole: The best available technology or best available techniques (BAT) is the technology approved by legislators or regulators for meeting output standards for a particular process, such as pollution abatement or pasteurization. Similar terms are best practicable means or best practicable environmental option. BAT is a moving target on practices, since developing societal values and advancing techniques may change what is currently regarded as 'reasonably achievable', 'best practicable' and 'best available'. A literal understanding will connect it with a 'spare no expense' doctrine which prescribes the acquisition of the best state of the art technology available, without regard for traditional cost-benefit analysis. In practical use, the cost aspect is also taken into account. See also discussions on the topic of the precautionary principle which, along with considerations of best available technologies and cost-benefit analyses, is also involved in discussions leading to formulation of environmental policies and regulations (or opposition to same). Best practicable means was used for the first time in UK national primary legislation in section 5 of the Salmon Fishery Act 1861, and another early use was found in the Alkali Act Amendment Act 1874, but before that appeared in the Leeds Act of 1848. Best available techniques not entailing excessive costs (BATNEEC), sometimes referred to as best available technology, was introduced in 1984 into European Economic Community law with Directive 84/360/EEC. The BAT concept was first time used in the 1992 OSPAR Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic for all types of industrial installations (for instance, chemical plants). Some doctrine deem it already acquired the status of customary law. In the United States, BAT or similar terminology is used in the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Best available techniques not entailing excessive costs (BATNEEC), sometimes referred to as best available technology, was introduced in 1984 with Directive 84/360/EEC and applied to air pollution emissions from large industrial installations. In 1996, Directive 84/360/EEC was superseded by the Integrated pollution prevention and control directive (IPPC), 96/61/EC, which applied the framework concept of Best Available Techniques (BAT) to, amongst others, the integrated control of pollution to the three media air, water and soil. The concept is also part of the directive's recast in 2008 (2008/1/EC) and its successor directive, the Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU published in 2010. A list, with 'Adopted Documents', of industries which are subject to the IPPC directive contains more than 30 entries, including everything from the ceramic manufacturing industry to the wood-based panels production industry.