Brussels, 11/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to proceed with the infringement procedure initiated against Ireland for non-compliance with the Community directive on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos (Directive 87/217/EEC). This Member State will be taken before the European Court of Justice (third stage of the procedure under Article 226 of the Treaty) for not having correctly transposed into internal law those provisions of the directive on the disposal of asbestos fibre due to work in removing the substance.
The Commission observed that the national texts -comprising general legislation on air pollution and specific laws on the health and safety of workers- do not take sufficient account of the environmental risks linked to the removal of asbestos. Under the directive, Member States are required to take the necessary measures to ensure that the removal of asbsetos or materials containing asbestos from buildings, structures and installations does not cause pollution to the environment. They must ensure that the work plan provided for under Directive 83/447/EEC (worker health and safety) prescribes the introduction of all the necessary preventive measures to this end. Irish legislation contains work plans, in accordance with Directive 83/447/EEC, but does not comprise provisions addressing environmental requirements. Irish authorities have announced that new legislation will be adopted to remedy this shortcoming, but the proposal has not yet been approved.