What is changing from 2026
One-off emission measurement has long been linked to the obligation to notify the measurement date in advance to the Czech Environmental Inspectorate (CEI) and subsequently submit the protocol. From 2026 this process is moving to the ISPOP electronic environment.
In practice, two separate electronic forms are introduced. The first concerns notification of the measurement date; the second concerns data from the measurement protocol. The operator and authorised person must therefore align not only the technical side of measurement, but also electronic deadlines and responsibilities.
| Form | What it is for | Who practically handles it |
|---|---|---|
| TERMÍN | notification of one-off emission measurement date | source operator |
| PROTOKOL | notification of data from one-off emission measurement protocol | authorised person |
| change notification | correction, scope reduction, or cancellation of already notified data | operator or authorised person depending on type of change |
It is therefore not just a change of communication channel. Digitalisation changes responsibility for information flow, documentation of dates, correction of notifications, and the link between operator and measurement team.
The operator should not see ISPOP only as an administrative detail of the authorised laboratory. The measurement date is linked to the operator's obligation and an error in notification can call into question the usability of the measurement as proper one-off emission measurement.
Notification of measurement date
The date of one-off emission measurement must be notified via ISPOP at least 5 working days before the measurement is carried out. The day of notification and the day of measurement are not counted in this deadline. For multi-day measurement, the first day of measurement must meet the condition.
This has a practical impact on planning. Measurement can no longer be reliably arranged "at the last minute" if it is to be used to fulfil a statutory obligation. The operator must allow reserve not only for agreeing a date with the authorised person, but also for electronic notification in ISPOP.
| Situation | Practical impact |
|---|---|
| routine periodic measurement | plan date well in advance |
| measurement after repair or technology change | count the 5 working day deadline |
| multi-day measurement | deadline assessed according to first day of measurement |
| change of measurement date | generally a new notification and new deadline |
| cancellation of measurement | address via change procedure in ISPOP |
Practically important: if the measurement date changes, it is not just a minor form correction. A date change may mean a new proper notification with a new five-day deadline check.
Change, scope reduction, or cancellation of date
In operation, measurement may not be possible in the originally planned scope. The source may be shut down, technology may not run in the required regime, a fault may occur, or the required measurement scope may change.
The Ministry of the Environment distinguishes especially scope reduction and date change. Scope reduction or cancellation of the date is done via a change form. If the measurement date itself changes, however, this is practically a new notification that must again be preceded by fulfilment of the deadline of at least 5 working days.
This is important for the operator especially for sources with irregular operation. Typically this applies to paint shops with variable production, boilers and burners with campaigns, backup sources, crushers, dryers, welding shops, process lines, or sources that run only for a specific order.
Submission of data from the protocol
Another major change is submission of data from the protocol. For measurements carried out from 1 January 2026, the authorised person must prepare the protocol and notify data from the measurement stated in the protocol within 60 days of the measurement via ISPOP using the PROTOKOL form.
The practical impact is significant: the operator no longer submits the measurement protocol to the inspectorate as under the older regime. That does not mean the operator need not be concerned with the protocol. The operator still needs it for own records, operating permit, checking compliance with emission limits, summary operating records, fees, or communication with the regional authority and CEI.
| Who | What to watch |
|---|---|
| operator | correct ordering of measurement, date notification, source operating regime, receipt of protocol for own records |
| authorised person | preparation of protocol and notification of data to ISPOP within 60 days |
| CEI | availability of notified data and checking compliance with obligations |
| regional authority | link to operating permit, emission limits, and operating conditions |
Electronic notification of the protocol does not replace professional review of results by the operator. The operator should know whether the source met emission limits, under what regime measurement was carried out, and whether the protocol matches the operating permit conditions.
Old and new regime: why the measurement date matters
For transition to the new system, the date the measurement was carried out is important. One-off emission measurements carried out by 31 December 2025 inclusive are not notified to ISPOP using the new PROTOKOL form. For these measurements, the procedure under the previous legal regulation applies.
Conversely, for measurements carried out from 1 January 2026, the new regime applies. The authorised person notifies data from the protocol via ISPOP within 60 days of the measurement.
| Measurement date | Protocol regime |
|---|---|
| by 31 December 2025 inclusive | procedure under earlier legal regulation, protocol not newly notified to ISPOP |
| from 1 January 2026 | data from protocol notified by authorised person via ISPOP |
| correction of older protocol | procedure according to regime valid for original measurement |
| correction of data from measurement from 1 January 2026 | addressed via change notification in ISPOP |
This distinction is important especially in the first half of 2026, when protocols from measurements carried out at the end of 2025 may still be pending and measurements under the new regime may already be taking place.
Transitional period until 24 May 2026
The Ministry of the Environment noted that data standards for the TERMÍN and PROTOKOL forms were published on 24 November 2025. Because of the six-month deadline for publication of data standards, in the period from 1 January 2026 to 24 May 2026 inclusive, notification of the measurement date and submission of the protocol to the data box of the relevant regional inspectorate of CEI is also accepted.
This transitional period is practically important, but should not lead to underestimating the new system. After it ends, full use of ISPOP forms will be decisive for new obligations.
In practice: anyone measuring in the first half of 2026 should verify for each case whether they are proceeding under the transitional regime or already fully via ISPOP. After 24 May 2026 it is advisable to expect that the standard procedure is electronic notification via the relevant forms.
What to do when ISPOP is unavailable
The Ministry of the Environment also accounts for situations where ISPOP or related services are unavailable. For notification of the measurement date, it is recommended to take a screenshot showing information about the outage, keep the date and time it was taken, and immediately send notification with all required particulars to the data box or electronic address of the relevant regional inspectorate of CEI. The notification should then be supplemented in ISPOP as soon as possible.
For data from the protocol, if ISPOP is unavailable, a screenshot is also recommended and the PROTOKOL form should be completed as soon as possible.
| Problem | Recommended practical procedure |
|---|---|
| ISPOP unavailable when notifying date | screenshot with date and time, notification to CEI, subsequent supplement in ISPOP |
| ISPOP unavailable when notifying data from protocol | screenshot for evidence, complete PROTOKOL after system recovery |
| measurement can be moved without risk | consider alternative date and proper notification |
| deadline at risk | document outage and communication |
From the operator's perspective, the safest approach is not to wait until the last day for notification. System outage, non-functional access, or a form error can otherwise cause an unnecessary problem.
Practical impact on operators
Digitalisation of emission measurement brings greater traceability, but also greater organisational demands. The operator must know who has access to ISPOP, who notifies the measurement date, how changes are handled, and how the link between measurement order, date notification, the measurement itself, and the protocol will be ensured.
The greatest impact will be on operators with multiple sources, multiple measurements per year, multiple sites, or irregular operation. This may typically apply to heating plants, boiler houses, paint shops, wood-processing operations, recycling lines, combustion engines, glassworks, foundries, food operations, or larger industrial sites.
The operator should have internally set:
- who is responsible for notification of the measurement date,
- who checks the five-day deadline,
- who communicates with the authorised person,
- who verifies the source operating regime on the day of measurement,
- who receives and checks the protocol,
- who watches that data from the protocol were notified,
- where the audit trail for inspection is stored.
This is not just administration. If measurement is not correctly notified, a dispute may arise as to whether it is proper one-off emission measurement for fulfilment of a statutory obligation.
Relationship with the authorised person
The new system increases the importance of coordination between operator and authorised person. The authorised person carries out measurement and now notifies data from the protocol via ISPOP. The operator must ensure, however, that the source runs in an appropriate regime and that measurement is notified in time.
In the measurement order it is therefore advisable to state clearly who will handle the TERMÍN form, what sources and substances will be measured, what scope is required, whether scope can be reduced, how a date change will be handled, and how the operator will be informed about notification of data from the protocol.
| Risk | How to prevent it |
|---|---|
| unclear who reports the date | agree responsibility before ordering measurement |
| last-minute date change | have internal procedure for cancellation and new notification |
| source not running in representative regime | confirm operating regime before measurement |
| protocol not administratively closed in time | watch 60-day deadline for authorised person |
| operator has no protocol for records | request final protocol for internal documentation |
A good authorised person should help the operator understand the process. The operator's responsibility for their own source and compliance with permit conditions does not disappear as a result.
Operating regime on the day of measurement
Electronic notification by itself does not ensure that measurement will be professionally usable. It still applies that measurement must take place under conditions corresponding to the source, operating permit, and purpose of measurement. If measurement is to be representative, the source must work in a suitable operating regime.
This is important especially for technologies with variable output, multiple production regimes, or irregular operation. If a date is notified in ISPOP but on the day of measurement the technology is not running or runs only marginally, measurement may need to be cancelled, scope reduced, or rescheduled.
Practically important: the measurement date should be aligned not only with the laboratory calendar, but also with the production plan, technology operation, availability of operators, and operating permit requirements.
Impact on inspections and documentation
Digitalisation increases traceability. Measurement dates, changes, cancellations, and data from protocols will be held in the system. The operator should therefore expect that during an inspection it will be easier to verify when measurement was notified, whether the deadline was met, and whether data from the protocol were submitted.
This is positive for operators with a well-set process. An electronic trail can help demonstrate that obligations were fulfilled. Conversely, for operations where measurement is handled ad hoc, digitalisation can be a source of problems.
For inspection, it is advisable to archive:
- confirmation of notification of measurement date,
- communication with the authorised person,
- measurement order and scope,
- evidence of change or cancellation of date,
- measurement protocol,
- information on notification of data from the protocol,
- any evidence of ISPOP outage,
- link to operating records and operating permit.
Most common mistakes
The most common mistake will probably be late handling of the date. If the operator calls the authorised person with a request for measurement "tomorrow", it may not be possible to meet the statutory five-day notification deadline.
The second mistake is unclear division of responsibility between operator and authorised person. The authorised person notifies the PROTOKOL form, but the measurement date concerns the operator's obligation. A third common mistake may be trying only to change the date of originally notified measurement, even though according to Ministry of the Environment methodology a date change practically means a new notification.
The fourth mistake is overlooking the old and new regime. Measurements carried out by 31 December 2025 are not notified using the new PROTOKOL form, while measurements from 1 January 2026 already fall under the new regime.
What the operator should do in practice
The simplest approach is to set an internal procedure for all one-off emission measurements. It should be short but clear. For each source it should be evident when measurement is due, what substances are measured, who orders measurement, who reports the date, who checks the protocol, and where documents are archived.
For sources with an operating permit it is advisable to check whether the permit sets specific measurement frequency, pollutants, operating regime, measurement points, or other conditions. These data should be aligned with the measurement order and notification in ISPOP.
| Step | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| permit check | verify what measurement and how often is required |
| measurement plan | prepare annual or multi-year calendar |
| order | clearly define sources, substances, exhausts, and scope |
| date notification | watch minimum 5 working days |
| measurement day | ensure appropriate source operating regime |
| protocol | receive, check, and archive |
| ISPOP | verify that data were notified by authorised person |
Such a procedure reduces the risk that a problem will appear only during an inspection or when completing summary operating records.
Summary
Electronic notification of one-off emission measurement and submission of data from protocols via ISPOP changes the practical organisation of measurement. The measurement date is notified in advance using the TERMÍN form; data from the protocol are notified by the authorised person using the PROTOKOL form; and for measurements from 1 January 2026 the new electronic regime applies. The transitional period until 24 May 2026 inclusive still allows, under certain conditions, submission to the data box of the relevant regional inspectorate of CEI.
The operator should have clearly set who notifies the measurement date, who communicates with the authorised person, who checks the source operating regime, who receives the protocol, and who watches archiving of documents. Digitalisation can reduce uncertainty and clarify inspection, but only when the process is correctly organised.
Send us the operating permit, list of sources, latest emission measurement protocols, and information on planned measurement dates. We will verify what obligations apply to you, how to set the measurement schedule, and what to watch when notifying in ISPOP.
Factual basis of the article
The article is based mainly on these sources:
- Ministry of the Environment notice on notification obligations to ISPOP from 1 January 2026 for dates and data from one-off emission measurement,
- Air protection news – Ministry of the Environment,
- Act No. 201/2012 Coll., on air protection,
- Act No. 42/2025 Coll., amending the Air Protection Act,
- Act No. 25/2008 Coll., on the Integrated Pollution Register and ISPOP,
- Decree No. 415/2012 Coll., on permissible pollution level and its determination.
In its ISPOP notice, the Ministry of the Environment states that from 1 January 2026 the date of one-off emission measurement is notified using the TERMÍN form and data from the protocol using the PROTOKOL form. The measurement date must be notified at least 5 working days in advance and data from a measurement protocol for measurement carried out from 1 January 2026 are notified by the authorised person within 60 days of the measurement. The Ministry of the Environment also set a transitional procedure until 24 May 2026 inclusive and a recommended procedure when ISPOP is unavailable.