On Wednesday 1 March, the European Parliament’s Environment and Public Health Committee (ENVI) endorsed the revision of Regulation (EC) 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (ODS), and strengthened its scope by adopting a report by Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, Swedish) with 74 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions (see EUROPE 12926/3).
It should be kept in mind that the update of the ODS Regulation - the main instrument for implementing the Montreal Protocol - aims to strengthen its effectiveness by preventing emissions of ODS, which were previously allowed in certain applications, such as insulating foams in the building sector.
Through their amendments, MEPs introduced a rolling review mechanism (by 1 January 2025 and then every 2.5 years) for the Commission to assess the availability of alternatives to ODS used as feedstock and to propose measures to further cap or phase out such uses where alternatives exist.
In order to improve the control and monitoring of ODS and to reduce potential negative environmental and health effects, they want the rules on leakage and registration in the licensing system to be extended to all ODS covered by EU legislation (including those not covered by the Montreal Protocol, listed in Annex II of the future revised regulation).
Regarding sanctions, MEPs refer to the ‘Protection of the Environment by Means of Criminal Law’ directive to avoid duplication (see EUROPE 13081/1).
MEPs also brought forward by 3 years, to 1 January 2030, the publication of the Commission’s implementation report, which they say should focus on the availability of ODS alternatives where an exemption is in place and on the fight against illegal trade.
The Parliament will vote at the end of March.
The text voted in ENVI: https://aeur.eu/f/5ke (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)