INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION : COUNCIL PUTS SEAL OF APPROVAL ON REVISED IPPC DIRECTIVE.

The directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) - revised, updated and merging seven directives into a single text - was given final approval by the EU Council of Ministers, on 8 November, at second reading (co-decision procedure). It aims to prevent and control pollution of air, water and soil by industrial installations. The new directive regulates emissions from a range of pollutants, including sulphur and nitrogen compounds, dust particles, asbestos and heavy metals.

Nearly 52,000 installations are covered by the text in sectors such as the production of metals, the manufacturing of chemical substances, poultry and pork farming, waste incineration and large combustion plants. The directive is expected to improve the harmonisation and implementation of emissions limits associated with the cleanest technology, or best available techniques', throughout the EU. Exceptions will only be possible if application of this standard results in disproportionate costs given technical characteristics and local conditions. The essential parts of the technical documents (conclusions on best available techniques) will be available in all official EU languages. The new directive also significantly tightens requirements for large combustion plants and establishes more uniform requirements for the monitoring of installations.

The directive is available at register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/pe00/pe00031.en10.pdf

Background

The new directive, of which the key element is implementation of best available techniques, revises and merges into a single text seven directives on industrial emissions, which are now repealed. The seven are Directives 96/61/EC on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC); 1999/13/EC restricting emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents and certain industrial installations; 2000/76/EC on waste incineration; 2001/80/EC on pollutants emitted by large combustion plants (LCP); 78/176/EEC on waste from the titanium dioxide industry; 82/883/EEC on the surveillance and monitoring of environments concerned by waste from the titanium dioxide industry; and 92/112/EEC harmonising programmes for the reduction and eventual elimination of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry.

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By Anne Eckstein