Compliance Radar
Who was sanctioned, and for what?
Fines, court rulings and incidents from Europe and North America: 756 cases from 32 jurisdictions, each with an official source and checked against that source before publication. Filter by country, area of law and sector. Click a chart to drill down one level.
Click a bar to drill down one level.
Where?
by regionAll jurisdictions
What for?
by action- Fine €4.21bn 100 % · 14 cases
- Other €234,153 0 % · 1 case
- Custodial sentence — 0 % · 1 case
Who?
by sectorAll sectors
- Automotive €4.2bn 100 % · 7 cases
- Energy and utilities €4.86m 0 % · 3 cases
- Transport, logistics and shipping €266,631 0 % · 1 case
- Construction and real estate €234,153 0 % · 1 case
- Steel and metals €222,537 0 % · 1 case
- Chemicals and pharmaceuticals €200,913 0 % · 1 case
- Food and agriculture €77,245 0 % · 2 cases
When?
per quarter, by date of decision| Period | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2023 | 0 | — |
| Q4 2023 | 0 | — |
| Q1 2024 | 1 | €1.53bn |
| Q2 2024 | 0 | — |
| Q3 2024 | 3 | €11.9m |
| Q4 2024 | 0 | — |
| Q1 2025 | 2 | €2.49bn |
| Q2 2025 | 1 | €266,631 |
| Q3 2025 | 0 | — |
| Q4 2025 | 4 | €278,158 |
| Q1 2026 | 1 | €839,630 |
| Q2 2026 | 1 | €168.7m |
| Q3 2026 | 3 | €4.26m |
16 cases
22 Sep 2026 Southern WaterSouthern Water: 2.4 million GBP fine for sewage and diesel pollution in Kent €2.9m
Between 2019 and 2021, untreated sewage, sewage residues, diesel from a generator and waste entered a stream and the sea around Faversham and Whitstable; the circumstances of one incident were not reported to the Environment Agency, around 70 fish died, and bathing warnings were in place at beaches in Tankerton and Herne Bay for almost a week. The court imposed a fine of 2,416,666.67 GBP, 69,894.04 GBP in costs and a 190 GBP victim surcharge; it was the company's second conviction that year (announcement of 22 September 2026, exact date of judgment not stated).
Repeated pollution and failure to report incidents lead to a series of prosecutions with rising fines.
Reporting environmental incidents to the regulator
- Authority / court
- Bromley Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Energy and utilities
- Repeat case
- yes
- Published
- 22 Sep 2026
Original amount 2,486,750.71 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 22 Sep 2026.
- Southern Water fined £2.4m for Kent pollution Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
8 Sep 2026 United Utilities Water LimitedUnited Utilities: record fine of 900,000 GBP after sewage flood on the Fylde coast €1.12m
Following a partial pipe collapse at the Fleetwood wastewater treatment works, untreated sewage flowed from three pumping stations into the Irish Sea for over 35 hours in June 2023; seven bathing waters were affected and shellfish beds were closed. The water company pleaded guilty to five offences and must pay a fine of 900,000 GBP, 62,225 GBP in costs and a 2,000 GBP victim surcharge.
The condition and redundancy of critical wastewater infrastructure are a permit obligation; the Environment Agency assessed the failure as reckless and in the highest harm category.
- Authority / court
- Preston Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Regulation 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Energy and utilities
- Culpability
- negligent
- Mitigating circumstances
- Around 38 million GBP invested in response and repair, and a voluntary payment of 250,000 GBP to Blackpool Council.
- Published
- 8 Sep 2026
Original amount 964,225 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 8 Sep 2026.
- Water company fined record £900k after coastline sewage spill Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
3 Sep 2026 BDW Trading (Barratt Redrow)Barratt Redrow subsidiary BDW pays 201,500 GBP to environmental projects after silt entered brooks €234,153
At the Ladden Garden Village construction site in Yate, a subcontractor washed silt from the site drainage into two brooks over six days in July 2022. The Environment Agency accepted an Enforcement Undertaking: BDW is paying 201,500 GBP to three environmental and charitable projects, bears the investigation costs and had already invested over 180,000 GBP in remediation, training and improved surface water management.
Developers are liable for environmental damage caused by their subcontractors; clear procedures and training on handling surface water prevent costly proceedings.
Protecting watercourses on construction sites and managing subcontractors
Missing or inadequate training played a role in the decision.
- Authority / court
- Environment Agency
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010 (Enforcement Undertaking)
- Action
- Other
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Construction and real estate
- Mitigating circumstances
- Acceptance of responsibility, remediation, training of employees and application for a discharge permit.
- Published
- 3 Sep 2026
Original amount 201,500 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 3 Sep 2026.
- Builder pays £201,500 to charities after silting watercourses Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
18 May 2026 Volvo Group North America, LLCVolvo Group North America: settlement of around 197 million USD over undisclosed emission control devices €168.7m
Around 10,000 heavy-duty Volvo diesel engines from model years 2010 to 2016 used auxiliary emission control devices (AECDs) that were not disclosed during certification and emitted more NOx than permitted. The settlement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) comprises 17.5 million USD in penalties and costs, 71 million USD for mitigation measures and 108 million USD for emission reduction projects in California.
Every emissions-relevant control function must be fully disclosed in the certification application; otherwise high settlement payments may follow years later.
- Authority / court
- California Air Resources Board (CARB)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Kalifornische Emissions- und Zertifizierungsvorschriften für schwere Nutzfahrzeugmotoren
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Automotive
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Mitigating circumstances
- Cooperation during the investigation; recall and extended warranty for engines from model years 2014 to 2016.
- Published
- 18 May 2026
Original amount 196,500,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 18 May 2026.
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
23 Feb 2026 Yorkshire Water Services LimitedYorkshire Water: 733,333 GBP fine for repeated sewage discharges into park brook €839,630
Between October 2018 and August 2019, untreated sewage entered a brook in Pools Brook Country Park on three occasions – due to a burst rising main, a blockage caused by wet wipes and a failing pipe coupling; during the first incident, fish died in the park lake. Yorkshire Water had already pleaded guilty in January 2024 and had not attended any of the interviews; the court imposed a fine of 733,333 GBP plus costs.
After a first incident, the cause at the site must be remedied permanently; repeated discharges from the same pipe lead to high fines.
- Authority / court
- Derby Crown Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Energy and utilities
- Culpability
- negligent
- Repeat case
- yes
- Published
- 23 Feb 2026
Original amount 733,333 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 23 Feb 2026.
- Yorkshire Water fined £733k after polluting country park stream Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
16 Dec 2025 A AG / V-Konzern (in der amtlichen Mitteilung anonymisiert)BGH: fraud convictions of former managers in diesel scandal final Custodial sentence
The Munich II Regional Court (Landgericht München II) had sentenced a head of department in diesel engine development and a former head of powertrain development for fraud in 94,924 cases to one year and nine months and two years respectively, and the former CEO of A AG for fraud in 17,177 cases to one year and nine months, in each case suspended on probation. They were responsible for unlawful defeat devices or failed to intervene despite having knowledge of them; the loss to buyers amounted to around 2.32 billion EUR. Germany's Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) dismissed the appeals on points of law (1 StR 270/24).
Board members who learn of defeat devices and do not act commit a criminal offence themselves – indications of rule violations must immediately lead to investigation and information for customers.
Dealing with non-compliant instructions in development and the duty to intervene
- Authority / court
- Bundesgerichtshof (1. Strafsenat); Vorinstanz Landgericht München II (Urteil vom 27.06.2023)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- § 263 StGB (Betrug); unzulässige Abschalteinrichtungen nach US- und EU-Zulassungsrecht
- Action
- Custodial sentence
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Automotive
- Culpability
- intentional
- Mitigating circumstances
- Prison sentences suspended on probation in each case.
- Liability of senior managers
- Those convicted were a head of department (P.), a former head of powertrain development and later board member (H.), and the former CEO of A AG (S.), who took no action despite the serious possibility of further defeat devices.
- Published
- 19 Dec 2025
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
11 Nov 2025 Devro (Scotland) LimitedDevro (Scotland): 48,000 GBP fine for discharging industrial wastewater into burn €58,610
In July 2021, a blockage in the foul sewer at the Moodiesburn plant (collagen casings for sausages) caused untreated industrial wastewater to back up into the surface water system, polluting the Bothlin Burn with ammonia and organic load. The company pleaded guilty on 11 November 2025; on 24 March 2026, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) reported a fine of 48,000 GBP plus a 3,600 GBP victim surcharge.
On-site drainage needs monitoring and maintenance so that faults in the foul sewer do not reach watercourses via surface water pipes.
- Authority / court
- Airdrie Sheriff Court (Ermittlungen: SEPA, Anklage: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Regulations 4 und 44(1)(a) Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011; Section 20(3)(a) Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Food and agriculture
- Published
- 24 Mar 2026
Original amount 51,600 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 11 Nov 2025.
- Sausage casing firm fined £48,000 for polluting North Lanarkshire burn with industrial effluent Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
28 Oct 2025 ExxonMobil Chemical LimitedExxonMobil Chemical: 176,000 GBP fine for six days of continuous flaring in Fife €200,913
Following a loss of steam in April 2019, the ethylene plant in Fife flared for almost a week; the smoke significantly exceeded permit limits, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) received over 900 complaints. Existing procedures and emergency plans should have prevented the incident but were not adequately followed. The company pleaded guilty and was fined 176,000 GBP.
Emergency plans only protect if staff apply them consistently in an emergency – regular drills are part of permit compliance.
Compliance with operating and emergency procedures in industrial plants
- Authority / court
- Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court (Ermittlungen: Scottish Environment Protection Agency, SEPA)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Regulation 67(1)(b) Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012; Section 2 Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Chemicals and pharmaceuticals
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Culpability
- negligent
- Published
- 28 Oct 2025
Original amount 176,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 28 Oct 2025.
- ExxonMobil Chemical Limited fined £176,000 for six days of flaring that sounded like a jet engine Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
8 Oct 2025 Manor Farm Dairy LtdManor Farm Dairy: fine after slurry overflow into stream near Dorchester €18,635
In March 2024, cattle slurry ran from the dairy farm's lagoons into a stream, seriously damaging it over more than 2 km, with effects up to 4.5 km downstream. The court imposed a fine of 6,000 GBP (reduced from 9,000 GBP because of an early guilty plea) and 10,158.50 GBP in costs; the Environment Agency described the incident as avoidable.
Farms must maintain sufficient slurry storage capacity and monitor lagoons.
- Authority / court
- Taunton Magistrates' Court (Anklage: Environment Agency)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Regulations 12(1)(b) und 38(1)(a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Food and agriculture
- Culpability
- negligent
- Mitigating circumstances
- Early guilty plea (fine reduced from 9,000 to 6,000 GBP).
- Published
- 13 Oct 2025
Original amount 16,158.5 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 8 Oct 2025.
- Manor Farm Dairy in Dorset fined for slurry polluting river Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
14 May 2025 Norfolk Southern Railway CompanyNorfolk Southern: EPA fine for locomotives without valid emissions certification €266,631
In the view of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the freight railway operated locomotives without a certificate of conformity, did not comply with the conditions of a testing exemption for several locomotives and operated locomotives in breach of the applicable emission standards. Under the settlement (Consent Agreement and Final Order), the company is paying a civil penalty of 299,000 USD.
Converted vehicles or vehicles exempted for testing are also subject to certification and restoration obligations, which must be tracked in fleet management.
- Authority / court
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 3
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Clean Air Act §§ 203(a), 213(d) (42 U.S.C. §§ 7522(a), 7547(d)); 40 C.F.R. § 1068.101
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Transport, logistics and shipping
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
Original amount 299,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 14 May 2025.
- In the Matter of Norfolk Southern Railway Company, EPA Docket No. CAA-03-2025-0062, Consent Agreement and Final Order Decision of an authority
- 2025 Clean Air Act Vehicle and Engine Enforcement Case Resolutions Enforcement database of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
19 Mar 2025 Hino Motors, Ltd.Hino Motors: over 1.6 billion USD in fines and forfeiture for emissions fraud €1.48bn
Between 2010 and 2019, the Toyota subsidiary submitted false certification applications, altered emissions data and fabricated test results; more than 105,000 non-compliant diesel engines were imported into the USA. The court imposed a fine of 521.76 million USD and forfeiture of 1.087 billion USD, plus five years of probation with an import ban on Hino diesel engines.
Manipulated test data in approval procedures lead to penalties that threaten a company's existence and to market bans; testing processes need independent controls.
Data integrity in testing and approval procedures
- Authority / court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Ermittlungen: EPA Criminal Investigation Division, FBI)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Clean Air Act; Verschwörung zum Betrug der Vereinigten Staaten und Schmuggel (Schuldbekenntnis)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Culpability
- intentional
- Published
- 19 Mar 2025
Original amount 1,608,760,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 19 Mar 2025.
- Court Sentences Hino Motors Ltd., a Toyota Subsidiary, and Imposes Over $1.6B in Penalties for Emissions Fraud Scheme Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
15 Jan 2025 Hino Motors, Ltd.; Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc.; Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Inc.Hino Motors: over 1 billion USD in penalties for falsified emissions test data €1.02bn
From 2010 to 2019, the Toyota subsidiary altered test data, carried out tests improperly or fabricated them entirely for more than 50 engine families (around 105,000 on-road and 5,700 off-road diesel engines). The resolution with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice comprises a civil penalty of 525 million USD and a criminal fine of 521.76 million USD (together 1.047 billion USD), five years of probation and an import ban on diesel engines; including the recall and mitigation measures, the overall resolution totals more than 1.6 billion USD.
Certification data is evidence – companies that embellish test results risk their existence, loss of market access and criminal prosecution.
Integrity of test and certification data
- Authority / court
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / U.S. Department of Justice
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Clean Air Act
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Culpability
- intentional
Original amount 1,046,760,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 15 Jan 2025.
- Hino Motors Clean Air Act Settlement Summary Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
16 Sep 2024 COBB Tuning Products, LLCCOBB Tuning: 2.914 million USD for over 81,000 tuners that disable emission controls €2.62m
Since 2015, the Austin-based manufacturer has sold more than 81,000 tuners that deactivate emission controls, as well as 8,400 exhaust pipes with fewer or weaker catalytic converters. The proposed settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (subject to court approval) provides for a civil penalty of 2,914,000 USD in four instalments, as well as a ban on defeat devices, removal of the ‘delete’ functions, information for dealers and customers, buy-back and destruction of such devices held by employees, and Clean Air Act training for the workforce.
Tuning products that circumvent emission controls are prohibited even as ‘racing parts’ – product approvals require an emissions review.
Emissions law for aftermarket products
Missing or inadequate training played a role in the decision.
- Authority / court
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Clean Air Act § 203(a)(3)(B), 42 U.S.C. § 7522(a)(3)(B)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Mitigating circumstances
- Amount of the penalty based on demonstrated limited ability to pay; payment in instalments.
Original amount 2,914,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 16 Sep 2024.
- COBB Tuning Products, LLC Clean Air Act Settlement Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
10 Sep 2024 Rudy's Performance Parts, Inc.Rudy's Performance Parts: 10 million USD in criminal and civil penalties for defeat devices €9.07m
From 2014 to 2019, the North Carolina company and its CEO Aaron Rudolf manufactured, sold or installed over 250,000 parts for Ford, GM and Dodge diesel pickups in order to remove emission controls – according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), producing as much in emissions as more than 11 million additional vehicles. A total of 10 million USD: a civil penalty of 7 million USD in instalments (settlement subject to court approval), a criminal fine of 2.4 million USD against the company together with three years' probation, and a fine of 600,000 USD against the CEO.
Those who run emissions tampering as a business model are liable under civil and criminal law – all the way up to management.
- Authority / court
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / U.S. Department of Justice
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Clean Air Act § 203(a)(3)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Culpability
- intentional
- Mitigating circumstances
- Payment in instalments because of demonstrated limited ability to pay.
- Liability of senior managers
- CEO Aaron Rudolf: three years' probation and a fine of 600,000 USD in the criminal proceedings; personally a party to the civil settlement.
Original amount 10,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 10 Sep 2024.
- Rudy's Performance Parts, Inc. and Aaron Rudolf Clean Air Act Settlement Information Sheet Press release of an authority
- EPA: North Carolina auto parts seller and its owner to pay $10M for making, selling and installing defeat devices Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
27 Aug 2024 Cleveland Cliffs Burns Harbor LLCCleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor: EPA settlement over pollutant emissions at steelworks €222,537
The steelworks on Lake Michigan allegedly emitted excessive particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants when charging the basic oxygen furnaces and during overflows of molten material. Under the settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company is paying 248,396 USD and must charge more slowly, improve extraction and monitoring, and introduce video recording and reporting to the EPA.
Emission peaks often result from operating procedures; binding work instructions and documentation are part of permit compliance.
Operating procedures for reducing emissions in production
- Authority / court
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Clean Air Act
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Steel and metals
- Published
- 27 Aug 2024
Original amount 248,396 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 27 Aug 2024.
- EPA Reaches Settlement with Cleveland Cliffs Burns Harbor for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
Report an error
10 Jan 2024 Cummins Inc.Cummins: 1.675 billion USD civil penalty for defeat devices in Ram pickups €1.53bn
The engine manufacturer programmed the engine software so that emission controls were reduced or switched off during normal driving (around 630,000 Ram 2500/3500 vehicles from model years 2013–2019) and failed to disclose auxiliary emission control devices in a further approximately 330,000 vehicles. Civil penalty of 1.675 billion USD – the highest ever under the Clean Air Act – plus recall and mitigation measures, totalling around 2 billion USD.
Software functions that affect emissions behaviour must be fully disclosed in the type approval process.
- Authority / court
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. District Court, District of Columbia)
- Area of law
- Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits
- Legal basis
- Clean Air Act
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
Original amount 1,675,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 10 Jan 2024.
- 2024 Cummins Inc. Vehicle Emission Control Violations Settlement Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link