Belgium has vigorously taken up the challenge posed by the growing concerns about health and environment (e.g. growing numbers of respiratory diseases, asthma, allergies, cancers and obesity). The federal government, regions and communities closely collaborate on environmental health issues and have signed a co-operation agreement with the force of law. At all levels, the governments give importance to science-based assessments, providing information to the population, the precautionary principle, planning and action. During the review period they adopted the National Environment and Health Action Plan (NEHAP), which will soon include measures on children’s environmental health (CEHAP), and established a permanent management structure to carry out joint research and monitoring.