Brussels, 16/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels, on Tuesday 15 September, the committee on the environment of the EP argued in favour of curbing atmospheric pollution caused by lawnmowers, bulldozers, tractors, locomotives, inland waterway vessels and other non-road mobile machinery.
The MEPs of this committee, which is chaired by Giovanni La Via (EPP, Italy), gave their full backing to the draft EU regulation aiming to reduce emissions from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), which is responsible for around 15% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 5% of particle emissions in the EU, according to the European Commission. This future legislation also aims to update and simplify the type-approval system for the internal combustion engines used in these machines.
It was by a large majority (64 votes in favour, 3 against) that they approved the establishment of stricter emissions limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and particles. They also back new, detailed technical requirements on emissions and test cycles. However, they also ensured less red tape for small businesses.
“We have managed to show that environment protection, consumers' health and the competitiveness of our industries are not irreconcilable objectives”, said Elisabetta Gardini (EPP, Italy), rapporteur on the subject, who was given a mandate (62 votes in favour, 3 against) to start negotiations with the Council of Ministers with the aim of concluding an agreement at first reading.
To reduce the administrative burden, the MEPs are calling for mobile cranes, inland waterway vessel engines and heavy machinery manufactured by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to be given temporary exemptions. Given the long life cycle of NRMM, they are also proposing to encourage owners to retrofit machines already in service with cleaner engine models, particularly in densely populated urban areas and areas in breach of EU air quality legislation.
The Parliamentary committee rejected new emission standards aligned on those in the US, together with a particulate number, for inland waterway vessels. Stressing possible synergies between the NRMM and heavy machinery sectors, due to the interrelated technology, the MEPs call on the Commission to consider new measures to promote these synergies. They urge the Commission to establish the extent to which emissions resulting from the test cycle correspond to those measured in the actual production conditions of the engines.
For most categories of engine, the draft regulation brings in a limit on the particulate number (PN) complementing the limit on particle mass (PN). The MEPs urged member states of the EU to take steps to encourage owners to retrofit particle filters on older engines. (Aminata Niang)