Precautionary soil protection means detecting and counteracting harmful impacts on soil early on, i.e., well before soil’s functions become endangered. Once soil has lost its functional capacity it is very difficult to restore. This has implications for all other areas of the environment, including humans.
In Germany, the key provisions are set out in the Federal Soil Protection Act and the Federal Soil Protection Ordinance. Next to numerous sector-specific provisions of EU law relevant for soil protection, the EU Soil Monitoring Law, adopted in December 2025, is of particular significance. Provisions relevant to soil protection can also be found in international law.
The Soil Investigation Advisory Board (FBU) is the expert committee according to section 25 of the German Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance (BBodSchV). The FBU creates the formal prerequisites for being able to apply newer measurement methods and procedures despite the legally required normative references to standards in the BBodSchV.
Soil protection and management of contaminated sites are regulated by the federal government. The federal states are responsible for enforcement. However, the federal government itself is also the owner of properties with all the associated rights and obligations.
