Brussels, 01/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is proposing to revise EU Regulation 2037/2000 on ozone-depleting substances to simplify the legislation and take account of the EU's progress so that it can continue its efforts by focussing on substances to be removed more rapidly or to be replaced by less ozone-depleting and environmentally-damaging chemicals.
Explaining the background to the review, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said in a press release: “Ozone-depleting substances have been almost entirely phased out in the European Union without causing major difficulties for producers and consumers. This proves that sustainable development is achievable and must be pursued further. Despite our successes we must remain vigilant as significant quantities of these substances are still present in many products such as refrigerators and insulation material in buildings. We must prevent these substances from being released into the atmosphere. This is all the more important as they are also important contributors to global warming."
In order to improve the implementation of the regulation, the European Commission is suggesting clarifications to some of its provisions, such as those on exemptions and derogations to the use of ozone-depleting substances, and the conditions under which they can be imported and exported.
The revision aligns the regulation with the latest international agreements, especially those dealing with the expedited phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, and those designed to achieve a final phase-out of substances for which alternatives are available.
The draft regulation includes additional measures to prevent the illegal trade and use of ozone-depleting substances in the European Union, and measures to reduce and ultimately phase out the use of methyl bromide.
The Commission points out that preventing substances contained in refrigeration equipment and insulation material in buildings from being released into the atmosphere would prevent further damage to the ozone layer and 'could avoid emissions equivalent to more than 100 million tonnes of CO2 each year'.
Hence the Commission's intention to work very closely with EU Member States and other countries party to the Montreal Protocol to tackle such issues in the EU and globally. (A.N. transl fl)