Brussels, 21/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 21 December, the European Commission adopted a new draft directive on industrial emissions to strengthen the provisions already in force and reduce industrial emissions throughout the European Union. The proposal will also simplify existing legislation, bringing together seven directives in one, thereby significantly reducing the administrative burden for industry and public authorities, says a Commission press release.
The aim of the new directive is to tackle the shortcomings of current legislation on industrial emissions. The main thrust of the directive is to increase the use of “best available techniques” (BATs), requiring industrial operators to use the most cost-effective techniques to achieve a high level of environmental protection. Due to the weakness of existing legislation, there has not been the level of application of BATs required by the IPPC Directive across the EU. Compliance with and enforcement of current legislation in the different member states is also inconsistent and the complex legal framework carries unnecessary costs for industry. These issues need to be addressed in order to maintain a level playing field for industry while offering higher levels of protection for the environment and human health. The aim of the IPPC Directive is to prevent and control emissions to air, water and soil from industrial installations across the European Union. The most recent figures on the issuing of permits under the directive suggest that by mid-2006 only about 50% of the 52,000 installations concerned had received a permit. This regrettable situation shows Member States have not made sufficient efforts to comply with the directive's deadline (30 October 2007).
The directive tightens minimum emission limits in certain industrial sectors across the EU - particularly for large combustion plants where progress to reduce pollution is insufficient. It introduces minimum standards for environmental inspections of industrial installations and allows for more effective permit reviews. The proposal also extends the scope of the legislation to cover other polluting activities, such as medium sized combustion plants, thus ensuring that all European Union Member States receive the same high level of environmental protection. According to Commission estimates, the proposed directive will reduce administrative costs for authorities and operators by between €105 and €255 million per year, thus contributing to the future sustainability of EU industry. (O.J.)