Luxembourg, 04/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Court of Justice has found Ireland guilty of not having taken necessary measures within the given time to comply with the EU regulations against substances that impoverish the ozone layer.
The regulation, which dates from 29 June 2000, requires of Member States that they take measures to reduce leaks of methyl bromide, used as a pesticide in farming, from fumigation installations by 31 December 2001 at the latest. Ireland admits to not having done this. The Irish government believes this delay can be explained by the difficulties and the technical nature of the sector concerned.
This case provides the Court of Justice with an opportunity to recall that "the complexity of Community legislation which a Member State has taken part in drafting cannot be considered an unusual and unforeseeable difficulty which the authorities in that State could not have overcome even by exercising all due care". Ireland has therefore been found guilty.