Activites

• 2004/04/30 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 2004/42
  • OJ L 143 30.04.2004, p. 0087-0096
• 2004/04/21 Final act signed
• 2004/04/21 End of procedure in Parliament
• 2004/03/30 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T5-0194/2004 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Giorgio LISI (EPP-ED, I) approving the Council's common position.�

• 2004/03/08 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A5-0136/2004
• 2004/01/15 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• 2004/01/07 Council position published
  • 14780/2/2003 summary

    To recall, at its plenary session of 23 September 2003, the European Parliament adopted 40 amendments to the Commission proposal, out of the 83 amendments that were tabled. Out of the 40 amendments adopted, the Commission accepted 16 either in full, or in part or in principle. Out of the 40 amendments adopted by Parliament, the Council incorporated 26 amendments in full, in part or in principle. Further to these amendments from Parliament, the Council also introduced a number of own, new amendments to the Commission's proposal. As regards the amendments incorporated in full or in part in the Common position, these concern the following issues: - requesting an explicit reference to the products covered by the Directive; - the need for allowing special paints etc. for the maintenance of old and treasures vehicles; - deleting the reference to human health from Article 1; - clarifying that the Directive does not preclude or prejudice national or Community measures for the protection of the health of workers or consumers is covered in substance by Article 1 paragraph 4; - on the definition of VOC content which is covered in its entirety by the new version of Article 2 paragraph 2. As a consequence, a clarification has also been added related to products in their ready for use condition; - on the definition of "coating"; - emphasising that the Directive does not prejudice nor affect National or Community measures for the protection of health of workers and their working environment with a higher level of protection is covered in substance by the new paragraph 4 of Article 1; - pointing to the need allow the sales in limited quantities of products, which do not comply with the VOC limit values, for the repair of vintage is modified accordingly; - on labelling is partly taken up in Article 4, while recital 12 specifies that the Directive complements Community provisions on the labelling of chemical substances and preparation. In this context, moreover, it is recalled that Article 1 paragraph 4 on further Community or national measures also applies to labelling requirements; - allowing Member States to grant derogations for special paints for the restoration and maintenance of building of special historical value is covered; - on measures to protect the health of workers; - on the definition of "matt coatings for interior walls and ceilings" has been taken in full and Annex II.A a) has been modified accordingly; - on the definition of vehicle refinishing products is taken up in part. However, the additional coverage of other activities (the original coating of road vehicles and the coating of trailers) was not supported by the Council. As regards the main innovations introduced by Council, these aim to: - delete the term "decorative" used to specify the paints covered by the Directive. The term "decorative paints" did not correspond to common usage in some Member States and were perceived as being to restrictive. The sub-categories of products covered by theDirective are exhaustively listed in Annex I; - add definitions of "preparation", "film" and "placing on the market"; - to revise the definition of "VOC content"; - on the issue of Requirements : include a reference to the new Annex III, listing the analytical methods to be used for determining compliance with the Directive; - include a derogation for products used exclusively in registered or authorised installations according to Directive 1999/13/EC, where pollution abatement equipment is used (to avoid repetitions); - include a transitional arrangement in respect to existing stocks; - stipulate that the deadlines for the first two reports on the implementation of the Directive has been fixed to 18 months after the dates for compliance with limit values laid down in Annex II, i.e.: 1 January 2007 and 1.January 2010. The following reports will be prepared every five years; - clarify that the Commission's review has been entirely reformulated in the Council's common position. According to this Article, the Commission is invited to present to the European Parliament and to the Council two reports, accompanied, if appropriate, by proposals to amend the Directive. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 9 contain a list of elements which the Commission is requested to examine. The first report should be prepared in 2008 while the second one, based on the experience gained in applying the Directive, is foreseen in 2012 (i.e. at the latest 30 months after the date of implementation of the VOC content limit values of Annex II phase II); - Annex I, part 2.1 a) : the first indent defining preparatory and cleaning products for vehicle refinishing (gunwash) has been reworded to include clearly all preparatory products; - Annex III (new) lists the analytical methods to be used for determining compliance with the VOC limit values of the Directive. These methods are to be adapted, if necessary, by the Commission in accordance with a regulatory committee procedure. Finally, the recitals have undergone some additions and changes, consequent to the new elements of the common position.�

• #X019
• 2003/12/22 Council Meeting
• #2536
• 2003/10/27 Council Meeting
• 2003/09/25 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0411/2003 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Giorgio LISI (EPP-ED, Italy) and made some amendments to the Commission's proposals. (Please refer to the document dated 09/09/03.) However, Parliament did not follow the environment committee on one important point: on the question of the boiling point of volatile organic compounds, Parliament rejected the committee's amendment of substances with a boiling point up to 280°C such as the solvent Texanol. All amendments aiming at modifying the limit values were rejected, though a single new limit value for Interior/exterior trim and cladding paints for wood and metal was inserted. Furthermore: - Parliament added a new recital stating that the purpose of the Directive is to prevent direct and indirect emissions of VOCs into the general or human environment due to the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products, and to prevent direct risks to human health, by limiting the maximum content of VOCs; - the exemption relating to old and treasured vehicles must not represent more than 0.5 % of total sales in the vehicle refinishing sector; - for the purpose of the restoration and maintenance of buildings designated by national authorities as being of particular historical value, Member States may licence the use of special paints which do not meet the solvent limit values. In the tri-annual reports required under the Directive, Member States must inform the Commission about the number of licences granted and the nature and volume of the special paints licensed; - no later than 2 years after entry into force of the Directive, the Commission must submit a report assessing the actual and anticipated reduction in ozone formation as a result of this Directive.�

• 2003/09/24 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2003/09/09 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0292/2003
• #2491
• 2003/03/04 Council Meeting
  • 2491
• 2003/01/13 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2002/12/23 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2002)0750 summary

    PURPOSE : to present a new proposal to reduce the content of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in a series of decorative paints and varnishes. CONTENT : the proposal aims to reduce VOCs emissions by setting the maximum values for the VOC content in certain categories of decorative paints and vehicle refinishing products, limits that have to be respected for the marketing of these products within the EU. However, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, some flexibility is provided, for example by allowing Member States discretion in the development and implementation of market surveillance systems. The proposal will for the first time set EU-wide limits on solvent content in paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing products to come into effect in two phases: 2007 and 2010. More specifically, as regards a two-phase approach, this will give the sectors affected adequate time to adapt without compromising the long-term environmental benefits. The first phase will apply from 1 January 2007 while the second will apply from 1 January 2010. For vehicle refinishing products, there will be only one phase, which will apply from 1 January 2007. �

  • DG [{'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/', 'title': 'Environment'}],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2002)0750
• Debate in Council: 2491
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0292/2003
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0411/2003
• Council position published: 14780/2/2003
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A5-0136/2004
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T5-0194/2004
• : Directive 2004/42
• : OJ L 143 30.04.2004, p. 0087-0096

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)