(2004/C 78 E/0434)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2662/03

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject:   Ozone-depleting substances

With reference to your answer dated 22 March 2002 to written question P-0595/02 (1), when only two Member States had reported on the mechanisms they had in place for the recovery and destruction of ozone-depleting substances, and when the Commission committed itself to a comprehensive overview of the situation throughout the EU, can the Commission now provide an update of the situation in each of the Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(21 October 2003)

To date all Member States except Ireland have responded.

Most Member States have reported on the following: safety and quality standards for equipment that contains ozone-depleting substances (ODS); inspection procedures for installations containing ODS, record keeping and reporting requirements; ODS recovery methods; mobile and fixed ODS destruction equipment; quantities of ODS recovered, recycled, reclaimed and destroyed during 1999, 2000 and 2001; the minimum qualification standards for technicians involved in ODS recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction and efforts undertaken to make the public and industry aware of the requirements of the Regulation that include articles in the news media, workshops and information on official websites.

The Commission has undertaken evaluations and has, so far, identified four Member States that are not in compliance with Article 16(5) (2) and 16(6) (3) of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (4). Therefore, the Commission took a decision on 9 July 2003 to take Ireland to the Court of Justice for not reporting. In addition, three infringement procedures are under way against Greece, Spain and Portugal for insufficient reporting and implementation of the Regulation. For detailed overview of the state of play on recovery and destruction a table is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

(1)  OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 168.

(2)  Member States shall take steps to promote the recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction of controlled substances and shall assign to users, refrigeration technicians or other appropriate bodies responsibility for ensuring compliance with the provisions of paragraph 1.

(3)  Member States shall report to the Commission by 31 December 2001 on systems established to promote the recovery of used controlled substances, including the facilities available and the quantities of used controlled substances, recovered, recycled, reclaimed or destroyed.

(4)  OJ L 244, 29.9.2000.