A4-0140/96

Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Council Directive on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT) (C4-0095/96 - 00/0161(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0095/96 - 00/0161(SYN) ((OJ C 87, 25.3.1996, p. 1.)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 149, 18.6.1990, p. 150 and OJ C 19, 28.1.1991, p. 83.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(88)0559 ((OJ C 319, 12.12.1988, p. 57.)),

- having regard to the amended Commission proposal, COM(91)0373 - 00/0161(SYN) ((OJ C 299, 20.11.1991, p. 9.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189C of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0140/96),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

Common position of the Council Amendments by Parliament

(Amendment 5)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(3a) Whereas there is a need to fund research into other methods of disposal of PCBs and PCTs and other persistant organic chlorines, in particular methods involving bacterial biodegradation and pretreatment using chlorine extraction and innovative dehalogenation chemical processes;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 8

>Original text>

(8) Whereas Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils lays down 50 ppm as the maximum limit for the PCB or PCT content of regenerated oils or oils used as fuel;

>Text following EP vote>

(8) Whereas Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils lays down 50 ppm as the maximum limit for the PCB or PCT content of regenerated oils or oils used as fuel; whereas, having regard to technical progress, this limit should be reduced to 20 ppm for mixtures to be used as combustibles including waste oil;

(Amendment 3)

Article 3

>Original text>

Without prejudice to their international obligations, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that used PCBs are disposed of and PCBs and equipment containing PCBs are decontaminated or disposed of as soon as possible. For the equipment and the PCBs contained therein, which are subject to inventory in accordance with Article 4(1), decontamination and/or disposal shall be effected at the latest by the end of 2010.

>Text following EP vote>

Without prejudice to their international obligations, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that used PCBs are disposed of and PCBs and equipment containing PCBs are decontaminated or disposed of as soon as possible. Member States shall ensure that compliance with these provisions is monitored and that violations thereof are effectively penalized. For the equipment and the PCBs contained therein, which are subject to inventory in accordance with Article 4(1), decontamination and/or disposal shall be effected at the latest by the end of 2010.