Council adopts common position on VOC emissions
The Council's common position on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations has recently been published in the Official Journal. The legislation aims to prevent or reduce the direct and indirect effects of emissions of VOCs into the environment and the potential risks to human health, by providing measures and procedures to be implemented for a broad range of industrial and commercial activities. The following emission limit values are prescribed in the legislation: - For discharges of VOCs which are classified as carcinogens, mutagens, or toxic to reproduction, and where the mass flow is greater than 10 g/h, an emission limit value of 2 mg/Nm3 is imposed; - For substances which have a mass flow of less than 10 g/h, the legislation prescribes that these shall be replaced by less harmful substances within the shortest possible time; - For discharges of halogenated VOCs where the mass flow is greater than 100 g/h, an emission limit value of 20 mg/Nm3 is imposed; - Installations which operate abatement equipment have to comply with an emission limit value of 50 mg C/Nm3 in the case of incineration and 150 mg C/Nm3 in the case of other abatement equipment. The legislation would introduce a reduction scheme allowing the operator of an installation the possibility of achieving emission reductions by other means, equivalent to those achieved if the emission limit values were to be applied. The operator may therefore use any reduction scheme, specifically designed for his installation, provided that an equivalent emission reduction is achieved. A solvent management plan would also be introduced, aiming to verify compliance with the legislation, identify future reduction options and enable the provision of information to the public on solvent consumption and emissions in accordance with other legislation. The operator of an installation would be required to report to the national competent authority on an annual basis, or as requested, in order to ensure compliance with the legislation. In addition, Member States shall send a report to the Commission every three years on the implementation of the Directive.