1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COUNCILDIRECTIVE1999/32/EC
of26April1999
relatingtoareductioninthesulphurcontentofcertainliquidfuelsandamendingDirective93/12/
EEC
(OJL121,11.5.1999,p.13)
Amendedby:
OfficialJournal
No page date
►M1Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the
Councilof29September2003L284 1 31.10.2003
▼B
COUNCILDIRECTIVE1999/32/EC
of26April1999
relatingtoareductioninthesulphurcontentofcertainliquidfuels
andamendingDirective 93/12/EEC
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANUNION,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanCommunity,andinparticularArticle130s(1)thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission(
1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee(2),
Acting inaccordance withthe procedure laid downinArticle 189cof
theTreaty(3),
(1)WhereastheobjectivesandprinciplesoftheCommunity'senvir-onmental policy as set out in the action programmes on theenvironment and in particular the Fifth Environmental ActionProgramme(
4) on the basis of principles enshrined in Article
130r of the Treaty, aimin particular to ensure the effective
protection of all people fromthe recognised risks fromsulphurdioxide emissionsand toprotect the environment bypreventingsulphurdepositionexceedingcriticalloadsandlevels;
(2)Whereas Article 129 of the Treaty provides that health protec-tion requirements are to form a constituent part of theCommunity's other policies; whereas Article 3(o) of the TreatyalsoprovidesthattheactivitiesoftheCommunityshouldincludeacontributiontotheattainmentofahighlevelofhealthprotec-
tion;
(3)Whereasemissionsofsulphurdioxidecontributesignificantlyto
theproblemofacidification intheCommunity;whereassulphur
dioxide also has a direct effect on human health and on the
environment;
(4)Whereas acidification and atmospheric sulphur dioxide damage
sensitive ecosystems, reduce biodiversity and reduce amenity
valueaswellasdetrimentally affecting cropproductionandthegrowth of forests; whereas acid rain falling in cities may causesignificant damage to buildings and the architectural heritage;whereas sulphur dioxide pollution may also have a significanteffect upon human health, particularly among those sectors of
thepopulationsufferingfromrespiratorydiseases;
(5)Whereas acidification is a transboundary phenomenon requiring
Communityaswellasnationalorlocalsolutions;
(6)Whereas emissions of sulphur dioxide contribute to the forma-tionofparticulatematterintheatmosphere;
(7)Whereas the Community and the individual Member States areContracting Parties to the UN-ECE Convention on Long-RangeTransboundary Air Pollution; whereas the second UN-ECEProtocolontransboundarypollutionbysulphurdioxideforesees
thattheContractingPartiesshouldreducesulphurdioxideemis-
sionsinlinewithorbeyondthe30%reductionspecifiedinthefirstProtocolandwhereasthesecondUN-ECEProtocolisbasedonthe premise that critical loads and levels will continue to beexceeded in some sensitive areas; whereas further measures toreduce sulphur dioxide emissions will still be required if the1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—2
(1) OJC190,21.6.1997,p.9,andOJC259,18.8.1998,p.5.
(2) OJC355,21.11.1997,p.1.
(3) Opinionofthe EuropeanParliament of13May1998(OJC167,1.6.1998,
p. 111), Council Common Position of 6 October 1998 (OJ C 364,
25.11.1998,p. 20) and Decision of the European Parliament of 9 February
1999(notyetpublishedintheOfficialJournal).
(4) OJC138,17.5.1993,p.5.
▼B
objectives in the Fifth Environmental Action Programme are to
be respected; whereas the Contracting Parties should thereforemake further significant reductions in emissions of sulphur
dioxide;
(8)Whereassulphurwhichisnaturallypresentinsmallquantitiesin
oil and coal has for decades been recognised as the dominantsource of sulphur dioxide emissions which are one of the maincauses of ‘acid rain’ and one of the major causes of the airpollutionexperiencedinmanyurbanandindustrialareas;
(9)Whereas the Commission has recently published a communica-tion on a cost-effective strategy to combat acidification in theCommunity; whereas the control of sulphur dioxide emissions
originatingfromthecombustionofcertainliquidfuelswasiden-
tified as being an integral component of this cost-effectivestrategy; whereas the Community recognises the need formeasuresregardingallotherfuels;
(10)Whereasstudieshaveshownthatbenefitsfromreducingsulphuremissionsbyreductionsinthesulphurcontentoffuelswilloftenbe considerably greater than the estimated costs to industry in
this Directive and whereas the technology exists and is well
establishedforreducingthesulphurlevelofliquidfuels;
(11)Whereas,inconformitywiththeprincipleofsubsidiarityandtheprinciple of proportionality referred to in Article 3b of theTreaty, the objective of reducing the emissions of sulphurdioxide arising fromthe com bustion of certain types of liquidfuels cannot be achieved effectively by Member States actingindividually; whereas unconcerted action offers no guarantee of
achieving the desired objective, is potentially counterproductive
andwill result inconsiderable uncertainty inthe market forthefuel products affected; whereas, in view of the need to reducesulphurdioxide emissions acrossthe Community, it isthereforemore effective to take action at the level of the Community;whereasthisDirectivelimitsitselftotheminimumrequirements
necessarytoachievethedesiredobjective;
(12)Whereas in Council Directive 93/12/EEC of 23 March 1993
relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels(1) the
Commission was asked to submit to the Council a proposalprescribing lower limits for the sulphur content in gas oil andnew limits for aviation kerosene; whereas it would be appro-priate to lay downlimits forthe sulphur content of other liquid
fuels, in particular heavy fuel oils, bunker fuel oils, marine gas
oilsandgasoils,onthebasisofcosteffectivenessstudies;
(13)Whereas, in accordance with Article 130t of the Treaty, thisDirective should not prevent any Member State from main-taining or introducing more stringent protective measures;whereassuchmeasuresmustbecompatible withtheTreaty andshouldbenotifiedtotheCommission;
(14)Whereas a Member State, before introducing new, more strin-gent protective measures, should notify the draft measures to
the Commission in accordance with Council Directive 83/189/
EEC of 28March 1983 laying downa procedure for the provi-sion of information in the field of technical standards andregulations(
2);
(15)Whereas, with regard to the limit on the sulphur content ofheavy fuel oil, it is appropriate to provide for derogations inMember States and regions where the environmental conditionsallow;
(16)Whereas, with regard to the limit on the sulphur content ofheavy fuel oil, it is also appropriate to provide for derogations1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—3
(1) OJL74,27.3.1993,p.81.
(2) OJL109,26.4.1983,p.8.DirectiveaslastamendedbyCommissionDeci-
sion96/139/EC(OJL32,10.2.1996,p.31).
▼B
fortheiruseincombustion plantswhichcomply withtheemis-
sionlimitvalueslaiddowninCouncilDirective88/609/EECof24 November 1988(
1) on the limitation of emissions of certain
pollutants into the air fromlarge com bustion plants; whereas in
thelightoftheforthcomingrevisionofDirective88/609/EEC,itmaybenecessarytoreviewand,ifappropriate,torevisecertainprovisionsofthisDirective;
(17)Whereasforrefinerycombustionplantsexcludedfromthescopeof Article 3(3)(i)(c) of this Directive the emissions of sulphurdioxide averaged over such plants should not exceed the limitsset out in Directive 88/609/EEC or any future revision of that
Directive; whereas,intheapplication ofthisDirective, Member
States should bear in mind that substitution by fuels other thanthose pursuant to Article 2 should not produce an increase inemissionsofacidifyingpollutants;
(18)Whereas a limit value of 0,2 % for the sulphur content of gasoils has already been established pursuant to Directive 93/12/EEC;whereasthatlimitvalueshouldbechangedto0,1%until1January2008;
(19)Whereas,inaccordancewiththe1994ActofAccession,Austriaand Finland have a derogation for a period of four years from
the date of accession regarding the provisions in Directive 93/
12/EECconcerningthesulphurcontentofgasoil;
(20)Whereas the limit values of 0,2% (from the year 2000) and of
0,1 % (fromthe year 2008) for the sulphur content of gas oils
intendedformarineuseinsea-goingshipsmaypresenttechnicaland economic problems for Greece throughout its territory, forSpainwithregardtothe CanaryIslands,forFrancewithregardto the French Overseas Departments, and for Portugal with
regard to the archipelagoes of Madeira and Azores; whereas a
derogation for Greece, the Canary Islands, the French OverseasDepartments and the Archipelagoes of Madeira and Azoresshould not have a negative effect upon the market in gas oilintended for marine use and given that exports of gas oil formarine use from Greece, the Canary Islands, the French Over-
seasDepartmentsandtheArchipelagoesofMadeiraandAzores
toother Member Statesshouldsatisfythe requirements inforcein the importing Member State; whereas Greece, the CanaryIslands,theFrenchOverseasDepartmentsandtheArchipelagoesofMadeiraandAzoresshouldthereforebeaffordedaderogation
fromthe lim it values of sulphur by weight for gas oil used for
marinepurposes;
(21)Whereassulphuremissionsfromshippingduetothecombustion
ofbunkerfuelswithahighsulphurcontentcontributetosulphur
dioxide pollution and problems of acidification; whereas theCommunitywillbeadvocatingmoreeffectiveprotectionofareassensitive to SO
xemissions and a reduction in the normal limit
value for bunker fuel oil (fromthe present 4,5 %) at the conti-
nuing and future negotiations on the MARPOL Convention
within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); whereasthe Community initiatives to have the North Sea/Channeldeclared a special low SO
xemission control area should be
continued;
(22)Whereasmoreprofoundresearchintotheeffectsofacidificationon ecosystems and the human body is needed; whereas theCommunityisassistingsuchresearchundertheFifthFramework
ResearchProgramme(
2);
(23)Whereas in the case of a disruption in the supply of crude oil,
petroleumproductsorotherhydrocarbons,theCommissionmay1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—4
(1) OJL336,7.12.1988,p.1.DirectiveaslastamendedbyDirective94/66/EC
(OJL337,24.12.1994,p.83).
(2) OJL26,1.2.1999,p.1.
▼B
authorise application of a higher limit within a Member State's
territory;
(24)Whereas Member States should establish the appropriatemechanisms for monitoring compliance with the provisions ofthis Directive; whereas reports on the sulphur content of liquidfuelsshouldbesubmittedtotheCommission;
(25)Whereas, for reasons of clarity, it will be necessary to amendDirective93/12/EEC,
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Purposeandscope
1. The purpose of this Directive is to reduce the emissions of
sulphurdioxideresultingfromthecombustionofcertaintypesofliquidfuels and thereby to reduce the harmful effects of such emissions on
manandtheenvironment.
2. Reductionsintheemissionsofsulphurdioxideresultingfromthe
combustionofcertainpetroleum-derived liquidfuelsshallbeachievedbyimposinglimitsonthesulphurcontentofsuchfuelsasaconditionfortheirusewithintheterritoryoftheMemberStates.
The limitations on the sulphur content of certain petroleum-derived
liquidfuelsaslaiddowninthisDirectiveshallnot,however,applyto:
(a) — petroleumderived liquid fuels used by seagoing ships, except
thosefuelsfallingwithinthedefinitioninArticle2(3),
— marinegasoilusedbyshipscrossingafrontierbetweenathird
countryandaMemberState;
(b) fuelsintendedforprocessingpriortofinalcombustion;
(c) fuelstobeprocessedintherefiningindustry.
Article 2
Definitions
ForthepurposeofthisDirective:1.heavy fuel oil means:
— any petroleum-derived liquid fuel falling within CN code
27100071to27100078,or
— any petroleum-derived liquid fuel, other than gas oil as defined
inpoints2and3,which,byreasonofitsdistillationlimits,fallswithinthecategoryofheavyoilsintendedforuseasfuelandofwhich less than 65 % by volume (including losses) distils at250 ºC by the ASTM D86 method. If the distillation cannot be
determinedbytheASTMD86method,thepetroleumproductis
likewisecategorisedasaheavyfueloil;
2.gas oilmeans:
— any petroleum-derived liquid fuel falling within CN code
27100067or27100068,or
— anypetroleum-derivedliquidfuelwhich,byreasonofitsdistilla-
tion limits, falls within the category of middle distillatesintended for use as fuel and of which at least 85 % by volume(includinglosses)distilsat350ºCbytheASTMD86method.
DieselfuelsasdefinedinArticle2(2)ofDirective98/70/ECofthe
EuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof13October1998relating
to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending CouncilDirective 93/12/EEC(
1) are excluded fromthis definition. Fuels
used in non-road mobile machinery and agricultural tractors arealsoexcludedfromthisdefinition;1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—5
(1) OJL350,28.12.1998,p.58.
▼B
3.marine gas oil meansfuelsintendedformarineusewhichmeetthe
definition in point 2 or which have a viscosity or density fallingwithin the ranges of viscosity or density defined for marine distil-
latesinTableIofISO8217(1996);
4.ASTM method means the methods laid down by the American
Society for Testing and Materials in the 1976 edition of standarddefinitionsandspecificationsforpetroleumandlubricatingproducts;
5.combustion plant means any technical apparatus in which fuels are
oxidisedinordertousetheheatgenerated;
6.critical loadmeans a quantitative estimate of exposure to one or
morepollutantsbelowwhichsignificantharmfuleffectsonsensitiveelements of the environment do not occur according to currentknowledge.
Article 3
Maximumsulphurcontentofheavyfueloil
1. Member States shall take all necessary steps to ensure that as
from1January2003withintheirterritoryheavyfueloilsarenotused
iftheirsulphurcontentexceeds1,00%bymass.
2. Provided that the air quality standards for sulphur dioxide laid
down in Directive 80/779/EEC(
1) or in any Community legislation
whichrepealsandreplacesthesestandardsandotherrelevantCommu-nity provisions are respected and the emissions do not contribute tocritical loads being exceeded in any Member State, a Member Statemay authorise heavy fuel oils with a sulphur content of between 1,00and 3,00 % by mass to be used in part or the whole of its territory.
Such authorisation shall apply only while emissions from a Member
StatedonotcontributetocriticalloadsbeingexceededinanyMemberState.
3. (i) Subject to appropriate monitoring of emissions by competent
authorities paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to heavy fueloilsused:
(a) in combustion plants which fall within the scope of Direc-
tive 88/609/EEC, which are considered new plants inaccordance with the definition given in Article 2(9) of thatDirective andwhichcomplywiththesulphurdioxideemis-
sionlimitsforsuchplantssetoutinArticle4ofandAnnex
IVtothatDirective;
(b) in other combustion plants, which do not fall under the
scope of (a), where the emissions of sulphur dioxide fromthe plant are less than or equal to 1700 mg/Nm
3at an
oxygen content in the flue gas of 3 % by volume ona dry
basis;
(c) for combustion in refineries, where the monthly average of
emissionsofsulphurdioxideaveragedoverallplantsintherefinery (excluding combustion plants which fall under thescopeof(a)),irrespectiveofthetypeoffuelorfuelcombi-nation used, are within a limit to be set by each Member
State,whichshallnotexceed1700mg/Nm
3.
(ii) MemberStatesshalltakethenecessarymeasurestoensurethat
any combustion plant using heavy fuel oil with a sulphurconcentration greater than that referred to in paragraph 1 shall
not be operated without a permit issued by a competent
authority,whichspecifiestheemissionlimits.
4. The provisions of paragraph 3 shall be reviewed and, if appro-
priate, revised in the light of any future revision of Directive 88/609/EEC.1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—6
(1) OJL229,30.8.1980,p.30.DirectiveaslastamendedbyDirective91/692/
EEC(OJL377,31.12.1991,p.48).
▼B
5. If a Member State avails itself of the possibilities referred to in
paragraph 2, it shall, at least 12 months beforehand, inform theCommissionandthepublic.TheCommissionshallbegivensufficient
informationtoassesswhetherthecriteriamentionedinparagraph2are
met.TheCommissionshallinformtheotherMemberStates.
Within six months of the date on which it receives the information
from the Member State, the Commission shall examine the measuresenvisaged and, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 9,take a decision which it shall communicate to the Member States.Thisdecisionshallbereviewedeveryeightyearsonthebasisofinfor-
mation to be provided to the Commission by the Member States
concernedinaccordancewiththeproceduresetoutinArticle9.
Article 4
Maximumsulphurcontentingasoil
1. Member States shall take all necessary steps to ensure that gas
oils, including marine gas oils, are not used within their territory asfrom:
— July2000iftheirsulphurcontentexceeds0,20%bymass,
— 1January2008iftheirsulphurcontentexceeds0,10%bymass.
2. By way of derogation fromparagraph 1, Spain, for the Canary
Islands, France, for the French Overseas Departments, Greece, for thewhole or part of its territory, and Portugal, for the archipelagoes ofMadeira and Azores may authorise the use of gas oils for marine usewithasulphurcontentinexcessofthelimitssetoutinparagraph1.
3. Provided that the air quality standards for sulphur dioxide laid
downinDirective80/779/EECorinanyCommunitylegislationwhich
repeals and replaces these standards and other relevant Community
provisionsarerespectedandtheemissionsdonotcontributetocriticalloads being exceeded in any Member State, a Member State mayauthorise gas oil with a sulphur content between 0,10 and 0,20 % bymasstobeusedinpartorthewholeofitsterritory.Suchauthorisationshall apply only while emissions from a Member State do not contri-
bute to critical loads being exceeded in any Member State and shall
notextendbeyond1January2013.
4. If a Member State avails itself of the possibilities referred to in
paragraph 3, it shall, at least 12 months beforehand, inform theCommissionandthepublic.TheCommissionshallbegivensufficientinformationtoassesswhetherthecriteriamentionedinparagraph3aremet.TheCommissionshallinformtheotherMemberStates.
Within six months of the date on which it receives the information
from the Member State, the Commission shall examine the measuresenvisaged and, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 9,
takeadecisionwhichitshallcommunicatetotheMemberStates.
Article 5
Changeinthesupplyoffuels
If,asaresultofasuddenchangeinthesupplyofcrudeoil,petroleum
products or other hydrocarbons, it becomes difficult for a MemberState to apply the limits on the maximum sulphur content referred toin Articles 3 and 4, that Member State shall inform the Commission
thereof.TheCommissionmayauthoriseahigherlimittobeapplicable
withintheterritoryofthatMemberStateforaperiodnotexceedingsixmonths; it shall notify its decision to the Council and the MemberStates.AnyMemberStatemayreferthatdecisiontotheCouncilwithinone month. The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may adopt adifferentdecisionwithintwomonths.1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—7
▼B
Article 6
Samplingandanalysis
1. Member States shall take all necessary measures to check by
samplingthat thesulphurcontentoffuelsusedcomplies withArticles3 and 4. The sampling shall commence within six months of the date
on which the relevant limit for maximum sulphur content in the fuel
comes into force. It shall be carried out with sufficient frequency andinsuchawaythatthesamplesarerepresentativeofthefuelexamined.
2. The reference method adopted for determining the sulphur
contentshallbethatdefinedby:
(a) ISO method 8754 (1992) and PrEN ISO 14596 for heavy fuel oil
andmarinegasoil;
(b) EN method 24260 (1987), ISO8754 (1992) and PrEN ISO14596
forgasoil.
The arbitration method will be PrEN ISO 14596. The statistical inter-
pretationoftheverificationofthesulphurcontentofthegasoilsusedshallbecarriedoutinaccordancewithISOstandard4259(1992).
Article 7
Reportingandreview
1. On the basis of the results of the sampling and analysis carried
out in accordance with Article 6, Member States shall by 30 June of
each year supply the Commission with a short report on the sulphur
content of the liquid fuels falling within the scope of this Directiveand used within their territory during the preceding calendar year.This report shall include a summary of derogations granted pursuanttoArticle3(3).
2. On the basis inter aliaof the annual reports submitted in accor-
dance with paragraph 1 and the observed trends in air quality andacidification, the Commission shall, by 31 December 2006, submit areporttotheEuropeanParliamentandtotheCouncil.TheCommissionmay submit with its report proposals aimed at revising this Directive
andinparticularthelimitvalueslaiddownforeachfuelcategoryand
theexceptionsandderogationsprovidedforinArticle3(2)and(3),andArticle4(2)and(3).
3. TheCommissionshallconsiderwhichmeasurescouldbetakento
reduce the contribution to acidification of the combustion of marine
fuels other than those specified in Article 2(3) and, if appropriate,makeaproposalbytheendof2000.
Article 8
AmendmentstoDirective 93/12/EEC
1. Directive93/12/EECisamendedasfollows:
(a) inArticle1,paragraph1(a)andparagraph2aredeleted;
(b) inArticle2,thefirstsubparagraphofparagraph2andparagraph3
aredeleted;
(c) Articles3and4aredeleted.
2. Paragraph1shallapplyasfrom1July2000.1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—8
▼M1
Article 9
Advisorycommittee
1. TheCommissionshallbeassistedbyacommittee.2. WherereferenceismadetothisArticle,Articles3and7ofDeci-
sion 1999/468/EC(
1) shall apply, having regard to the provisions of
Article8thereof.
3. TheCommitteeshalladoptitsrulesofprocedure.
Article 10
Transposition
Member States shall bringinto force the laws,regulations andadmin-
istrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 1July2000.TheyshallimmediatelyinformtheCommissionthereof.
When Member States adopt these provisions, these shall contain a
reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such referenceat the time of their official publication. The procedure for such refer-
enceshallbeadoptedbyMemberStates.
Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the
provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered bythisDirective.
Article 11
Penalties
Member States shall determine the penalties applicable to breaches of
thenationalprovisionsadoptedpursuanttothisDirective.Thepenaltiesdeterminedmustbeeffective,proportionateanddissuasive.
Article 12
Entryintoforce
ThisDirectiveshallenterintoforceonthedayofitspublicationinthe
Official Journal of the European Communities .
Article 13
Addressees
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.1999L0032—EN—20.11.2003—001.001—9
(1) CouncilDecision1999/468/ECof28June1999layingdowntheprocedures
forthe exercise ofimplementing powersconferred onthe Commission(OJ
L184,17.7.1999,p.23).▼B