What are the rules on foreign septic tanks in france?

SEPTIC TANKS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICIAL APPROVAL AND REGULAR INSPECTIONS READER QUESTION: WE ARE LOOKING TO BUY A SECOND HOME IN FRANCE WHICH NEEDS A NEW FOSSE (SEPTIC TANK). WOULD A SEPTIC

TANK PURCHASED IN THE UK CONFORM? The decision depends on the _Service Public d’Assainissement Non Collectif_ (Spanc) covering your commune. Spancs keep a digital record, with photos of each

fosse installation, and are also in charge of inspections, usually every 10 years, to make sure installations are working as they should. All tanks must meet French standards and have a CE

stamp. We spoke to a Spanc manager in a rural area of France which has many second homes that are owned by foreigners. EU SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATIONS ARE ACCEPTED The manager had seen a few

installations of tanks from elsewhere in Europe, but none from the UK. “Britain is no longer in the EU but I do not think it has moved far from EU rules on installing waste systems, so there

is a possibility that a UK fosse would be acceptable,” she said. “But it must be checked before it goes into the ground, and technical documents provided in French. Each inspector makes

their own decision based on the individual house and garden layout.” READ MORE: EXPLAINER: THE RULES AROUND SEPTIC TANKS IN RURAL FRANCE She advised anyone thinking of importing a tank to

contact their local Spanc before buying it, detailing its specifications, including internal drawings. “But really it would be easier to buy from a French supplier,” she concluded. RELATED

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