EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 21.9.2005 
COM(2005) 447 final 
2005/0183 (COD)   
Proposal for a 
DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 
on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 
(presented by the Commission) 
{SEC(2005) 1133} 
 
EN 2   EN EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM  
1) C ONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 110 
• Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 
In the context of its "Better Regulation" initiative in June  2002, the Commission proposed in 
February 2003 a policy for updating and simplif ying the Community acquis. This aimed at 
securing a clear, understandable, up-to-date and user-friendly body of  EC secondary law. 
Following on from this initiative, the current pr oposal aims to merge th e provisions of five 
separate legal instruments in to a single direc tive with the intent ion of simplifying, 
streamlining and reducing the volume of existing legislation. In addition the proposal aims to 
revise substantially the existing provisions so as to incorporate the latest health and scientific 
developments and the experience of the Member States. 120 
• General context  
Air pollution has long been recogn ised as posing a significant risk to human health and the 
environment. In 1996 the Air Quality Framewor k Directive was adopted which established a 
Community framework for the asse ssment and management of am bient air quality in the EU. 
The Framework Directive also provided a list of priority pollutants for which air quality 
objectives would be established in daughter legislation. There ha ve subsequently been four 
daughter directives in respect of particular polluta nts and a Council Deci sion to bring about 
the reciprocal exchange of air quality monitoring information. 
The impact assessment accompanying this proposal has estimated the damage costs due to 
human exposure to particulate matter and ozone in ambient air. In the year 2000, exposure to particulate matter was estimated to reduce average statistical life expectancy by 
approximately nine months in the EU-25. This equates to approximately 3.6 million life years lost or 348 000 premature mortalities per annum. In addition, it has been estimated that there were some 21 400 cases of hastened death due to ozone. Significant progress is expected in 
reducing harmful emissions of particulate ma tter and its precursors between now and 2020 
such that the average loss in statistical life expectancy is expected to reduce to around 5.5 months. There is also expect ed to be a reduction of aro und 600 cases of hastened death 
due to ozone over the same time period. The dama ge costs of these imp acts in 2020 has been 
estimated at between EUR 189 to 609 billion per annum.
130 
• Existing provisions in the area of the proposal  
This proposal aims to revise and combine th e following separate instruments into a single 
legal act. 
Council Directive 96/62/EC on am bient air quality assessment and management (“Framework 
Directive"), OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55. 
Council Directive 1999/30/EC  relating to limit values for su lphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide 
and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air, OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41 
("First Daughter Directive"). 
 
EN 3   EN Directive 2000/69/EC of the Eur opean Parliament and of the Council relating to  limit values 
for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air, OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 12 ("Second Daughter Directive"). 
Directive 2002/3/EC of the European Parliame nt and of the Council relating to ozone in 
ambient air, OJ L 67, 9.3.2002, p. 14 (" Third Daughter Directive"). 
Council Decision 97/101/EC establishing a reciprocal  exchange of information and data from 
networks and individual stations  measuring ambient air pollution within the member States, 
OJ L 35, 5.2.1997, p. 14 ("Exchange of Information Decision").
140 
• Consistency with other policies and objectives of the Union 
This proposal is consistent with Article 175 of  the Treaty establishing the European 
Community and aims to provide a high level of protection for human health the environment. 
2) C ONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT  
• Consultation of interested parties 
2Consultation methods, main sectors targ eted and general pr ofile of respondents  
Approximately 13 main meetings with stakehol ders including industry groups (road vehicles, 
oil refiners, VOCs industries and general industr y representatives), Me mber States and NGOs 
including the European Environm ent Bureau, the Swedish Secretariat on Acid Rain and the 
World Health Organisation (WHO ) were carried out. Accession and EEA countries were also 
invited to these meetings. There have also been  approximately one hundred or so meetings of 
various technical working groups which have be en organised by the Commission services. In 
addition, a web based consultation was held on elements of the thematic strategy on air 
pollution which encompassed elements of the current proposal. 212 
Summary of responses and how th ey have been taken into account  
The views of the Member States and other st akeholders are genera lly supportive of the 
Commission's initiative to simplify the legislat ion. Member States also (i) recognise the 
importance to address the new air pollutant PM 2.5, (ii) are cautious about the absolute level at 
which any air quality standard ma y be set in light of the poten tial costs and feasibility of 
compliance, and (iii) supportive of the idea to reduce exposure generally and more in places 
where pollution is greatest. The proposal, therefore, foresees a relatively high concentration 
cap for PM 2.5 that would apply everywhere in the EU and which would ensure protection 
against unduly high risks but would only impose burdens in the most polluted areas. In 
addition, Member States would be obliged to measure PM 2.5 in urban background locations 
and to bring about a differentiated reduction in  the average levels measured according to 
measured pollution levels in 2010. This will enable general exposure to be reduced in the most effective manner as decided by the Member States.
213 
An open consultation was conducted over the internet from 1 December 2004 to 31 January 2005. The Commission received 11 578 responses. The results are available on 
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enviro nment/air/cafe/ pdf/air_pollu_en.pdf
. 
 
EN 4   EN • Collection  and use of expertise  
Scientific/expertise domains concerned  
The following areas of expertise have been used in developing this proposal and the thematic 
strategy on air polluti on: (1) impacts of air pollution on human health, (2) integrated 
assessment modelling and development of cost-eff ective control strategies, (3) health impacts 
estimation including monetary  quantification, (4) ecosystem benefits estimation, (5) 
macroeconomic modelling, and (6) air quality  assessment and management expertise. 222 
Methodology used  
Service contracts and grant agreements  and meetings convened by the Commission. 223 
Main organisations/experts consulted  
The World Health Organisation, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, AEA 
Technology, The Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, The European Environment Agency, The Joint Research Cent re (ISPRA), the Commission's working group 
on particulate matter, Commi ssion's working group on implemen tation and the Scientific 
Committee on Health and Environmental Risk  (SCHER) of the European Commission.
2249 
Summary of advice received and used 225 
The overwhelming evidence that the Commission has received can be summarised as follows: 
(i) there is a health risk from PM 2.5, (ii) PM 2.5 is a better metric for anthropogenic 
contributions to ambient levels of particulate ma tter, and (iii) the risk from the coarse fraction 
(between PM 2.5 and PM 10) cannot be ignored. 226 
Means used to make the exper t advice publicly available  
All reports from experts and contracts have been  routinely uploaded to the internet for public 
dissemination. 230 
• Impact assessment 
The Commission has considered the following options in respect of controlling human 
exposure to PM 2.5. Each option assumes that the existing limit values for PM 10 remain in 
force. 
(1) Introduce an exposure reduction target for PM 2,5 to be attained  by 2020, to reduce 
annual average urban backgr ound concentrations of PM 2.5 by a defined percentage 
rate of the Member State measured average over 2008-2010. This target to be 
achieved as far as possible but is not legally binding. 
(2) Replace the indicative limit values for PM 10 for the year 2010 by a legally binding 
limit value for annual average concentrations of PM 2.5 to be attained by 2015. Such a 
limit value would be designed to offer a high degree of protection to the population and would apply everywhere in the territory of the Member States; 
(3) Replace the indicative limit values for PM
10 for the year 2010 by a legally binding 
“cap” for the annual average concentrations of PM 2.5 of 25µgm-3 to be attained by 
 
EN 5   EN 2010. Such a “cap” or ceiling would be desi gned to limit unduly high risks to the 
population; 
(4) Replace the indicative  limit values for PM 10 for the year 2010 by a non- binding 
target for the annual average concentrations of PM 2.5 to be attained as far as possible 
by 2010. Such a target value would be nume rically identical to the limit value in 
option (2) above; and 
(5) Do nothing, i.e. do not introduce any requirement to reduce human exposure to 
PM 2.5. 
In light of the significant impacts on the European economy, option (5 ) of doing nothing is 
not a serious option. The Commission proposes a combination of options (1) and (3). This 
combination is in line with the best advi ce received from the WHO. The analyses 
underpinning the impact assessment show that a stringent uniform limit value is not as 
cost-effective as option (1) because a limit value would have most effect  in the most polluted 
areas which is not necessarily where most peopl e are exposed. The benef its of the preferred 
combination have been estimated at EUR 37 to 120 billion per annum with costs of around 
EUR 5 billion per annum. 
The simplification exercise and the modernisa tion of reporting requirements are likely to 
reduce the administrative burden on Member States though this cannot be quantified 
precisely. However, the proposals will require some additional monitoring of air quality 
though the costs involved are small and of the order of several million Euros. This will 
improve our understanding of air pollution and shoul d permit in the longer  term a greater use 
of modelling when assessing air quality rather than using more expensive monitoring. 231 
The Commission carried out an impact assess ment listed in the Work Programme, whose 
report is accessible on http:// www.europa.eu./dg/env/cafe/index . 
3) L EGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 305 
• Summary of the proposed action 
The aim of the current proposal is to revise subs tantially and merge five separate elements of 
the existing acquis on ambient air qu ality into a single directive. This will necessarily simplify 
and streamline existing provision s particularly in respect of  monitoring and reporting. The 
proposal will also update the pr ovisions to reflect new scientif ic developments and introduce 
controls on human exposure to PM 2.5 in ambient air. 310 
• Legal basis  
The legal basis of the proposal is Article 175 of the Treaty. 320 
• Subsidiarity principle  
The subsidiarity principle applies insofar as  the proposal does not fa ll under the exclusive 
competence of the Community. 
The objectives of the proposal ca nnot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States for the 
following reasons. 321 
 
EN 6   EN The existing legislatio n established minimum standards of air quality throughout the 
Community and this principle is  maintained in the simplifi cation. In addition, particulate 
matter in air consists of a substantial transboundary component and so all Member States must take measures in order that the risks to  the population in each Member States can be 
reduced. 
Community action will better achieve the obj ectives of the proposal for the following 
reasons.
324 
The major thrust of this proposal is to ame nd and simplify existing le gislation which applies 
minimum standards of air quality acros s the whole Community. In addition, PM 2.5 has a 
substantial transboundary component such that  once pollution is emitted or formed in the 
atmosphere it can be transported over thousands  of kilometres. So the scale of the problem 
requires Community-wide action. 325 
Atmospheric modelling and measurements of air pollution demonstrate beyond doubt that the 
pollution emitted in one Member State contribut es to measured pollution in other Member 
States. This shows that individual Member States cannot solve the problems alone and 
concerted action at the EU scale is required. 327 
The proposal concentrates on simplifica tions to existing legislation. On PM 2.5, the proposal 
sets Community objectives for each Member Stat e but leaves the means of compliance to be 
decided by the appropriate Member State author ities thus ensuring minimum standards of air 
quality for all citizens of the EU. 
The proposal therefore complies with  the subsidiarity principle. 
• Proportionality principle 
The proposal complies with the proportiona lity principle for the following reasons. 331 
The chosen legal instrument is  a directive, as (1 ) the proposal aims to simplify existing 
directives; and (2) it establishes objectives whilst  leaving the details of implementation to the 
Member States who have more precise knowledg e of local circumstances and the measures 
that will deliver air quality be nefits most cost-effectively. 332 
The proposal aims to simplify the monitori ng and reporting requirements by moving towards 
a shared information system and electronic  reporting. In addi tion, certain reporting 
requirements will be repealed. This will reduce the administrative burden on Member States though the precise extent cannot yet be quantifie d. In addition, although the proposal will 
require additional monitoring requirements in the short to medium term, this will eventually 
permit a greater scientific understanding of certa in air pollution problems which should in 
turn permit a greater use of modelling to assess air quality rather than more expensive monitoring. Thus cost savings in monitoring acti vities can be expected  in the longer term. 
 
EN 7   EN • Choice of instruments 
Proposed instruments: directive. 342 
Other means would not be adequate for the following reasons. 
The aim of the current proposal is to merge and simplify four existing directives and a 
Council decision into a single inst rument. Given this, and given that the existing legislation 
sets Community objectives but leaves the choi ce of measures for compliance to the Member 
States then the best instrument is a directive. 
4) B UDGETARY IMPLICATION 409 
The research needs linked to the proposal will be covered by Member States, with an EU 
contribution covered by the budget already allo cated for this purpose in the 7th Research 
Framework Programme as proposed by the Co mmission for the financial perspectives 
2007-2013. The proposal has no implication for the Community budget which would go 
beyond these actions. 
5) A DDITIONAL INFORMATION 510 
• Simplification 
The proposal provides for simplif ication of legislation and si mplification of administrative 
procedures for public aut horities (EU or national). 512 
Four directives and one Council decision will be merged into a single direc tive. Redundant 
provisions will be repealed, consistency between the separate legal acts improved and unnecessary obligations repealed. Non-essential reporting requirements will be repealed and it 
is anticipated that future monitoring will be by electronic means only thus reducing the 
administrative burden on Member States.
513 
Reporting and monitoring requirements will be simplified with a move towards electronic 
reporting. This should assist Member Stat es' internal administrative requirements. 515 
The proposal is included in the Commi ssion's rolling programme for up-date and 
simplification of the acquis communautaire  and its Work and Legislative Programme under 
the reference CLWP 2004 1011 fiche 2005. 520 
• Repeal of existing legislation  
The adoption of the proposal will lead to the repeal of existing legislation. 
• Review/revision/sunset clause  
The Commission will review, within five years following the adoption of this Directive, the 
provisions related to PM 2,5. In particular the Commission will develop and propose a detailed 
approach to establish legally binding exposure reduction obliga tions which take account of 
differing future air quality situations and reduction potentials in the Member States. 550 
 
EN 8   EN • Correlation table  
The Member States are required to communicat e to the Commission the text of national 
provisions transposing the Directive as well as  a correlation table be tween those provisions 
and this Directive. 560 
• European Economic Area  
The proposed act concerns an EEA matter and should therefore extend to the European 
Economic Area. 570 
• Detailed explanation of the proposal  
As the major thrust of this proposal is to re vise and merge several legal texts and remove 
redundant text, only major changes to the existing legislation are described here. 
Chapter III (Air Quality Management): 
The Commission does not propose to modify the existing air quality lim it values but will 
propose a strengthening of existing provisions so  that Member States will be obliged to 
prepare and implement plans and programmes to remove non-compliances. However, where 
Member States have taken all reasonable meas ures the Commission will propose that Member 
States be allowed to delay the attainment date in affected zones where limit values are not yet 
complied with, if certain objective criteria are met.  Any extension will have to be notified to 
the Commission. Furthermore, the Commission will confirm the intent of the current 
legislation to discount pollutant  contributions from natural so urces for compliance purposes. 
There is strong evidence to conc lude that fine particles (PM 2.5) are more hazardous than larger 
ones. However, the coarse fraction (particles in  the range of 2.5 to 10 µm in diameter) cannot 
be ignored. As such a ne w approach to control PM 2.5 is required to complement the existing 
controls on PM 10. This is supported by the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental 
Risks. The proposed approach would establish a concen tration cap for PM 2.5 in ambient air set 
to prevent unduly high risks to the population and to be attained by 2010. This would be 
coupled with a non-binding target to reduce human exposure generally to PM 2.5 between 2010 
and 2020 in each Member State, based upon measurement data. 
The proposal also envisages more comprehensiv e monitoring of certain pollutants such as 
PM 2.5. This will permit a greater understanding of  this pollutant and lead to better policy 
development in the future. In addition, this m onitoring should eventua lly permit a greater use 
of modelling and objective estimati on techniques to assess the extent of air pollution. This 
should allow less use of more expensive monitoring. 
Chapter V (Information and Reporting): 
The Commission proposes to move to a system of  electronic reporti ng based upon a shared 
information system within the INSPIRE framework1. This approach wi ll reduce paperwork, 
shorten information flows, enhance assessmen t capabilities and improve public access to 
information. As such, those provisions of the Ex change of Information Decision relating to 
                                                 
1 COM(2004) 516 final. 
 
EN 9   EN the mechanism for reporting will remain in force until such time as new implementing 
provisions are adopted unde r the INSPIRE Directive. . 
 
EN 10   EN 2005/0183 (COD) 
Proposal for a 
DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PA RLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL  
on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE CO UNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing th e European Community, and in particular 
Article 175 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Eu ropean Economic and Social Committee2, 
Having regard to the opinion of  the Committee of the Regions3, 
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty4, 
Whereas: (1) The Sixth Community Environment Action Programme adopted by Decision 
No 1600/2002/EC of the European Parliame nt and of the Council of 22 July 2002
5 
establishes the need to reduce pollution to levels which minimise harmful effects on 
human health, paying particular atte ntion to sensitive populations, and the 
environment as a whole, to improve the monitoring and assessment of air quality 
including the deposition of pollutants and to provide information to the public. 
(2) In order to protect human health and the environment as a whole, emissions of harmful 
air pollutants should be avoided, prevented or reduced and appropr iate standards set 
for ambient air quality taking into account  relevant World Health Organisation 
standards, guidelines and programmes. 
(3) Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 Septem ber 1996 on ambient air quality assessment 
and management6, Council Directive 1999/30/EC of  22 April 1999 relating to limit 
values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide  and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter 
                                                 
1 OJ […], […], p. […]. 
2 OJ […], […], p. […]. 
3 OJ […], […], p. […]. 
4 Opinion of the European Parliament of […], Council Common Position of […]. 
5 OJ L 242, 10.9.2002, p. 1. 
6 OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European 
Parliament and the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). 
 
EN 11   EN and lead in ambient air7, Directive 2000/69/EC of the Eu ropean Parliament and of the 
Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air
8, Directive 2002/3/EC of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 12 February 2002 relati ng to ozone in ambient air9 and Council 
Decision 97/101/EC of 27 January 1997 esta blishing a reciprocal exchange of 
information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air 
pollution within the Member States10 need to be substantia lly revised in order to 
incorporate the latest health and scientific  developments and the experience of the 
Member States. In the interests of clarity, simplification and administrative efficiency 
it is therefore appropriate th at those five acts be repla ced by a single Directive.  
(4) Once sufficient experience has been gained in relation to the implementation of 
Directive 2004/107/EC of the European  Parliament and of the Council of 
15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadm ium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic 
aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air11 consideration may be given to the possibility 
of merging its provisions with  those of this Directive. 
(5) A common approach to the assessment of air quality should be followed according to 
common assessment criteria. When assessi ng ambient air quality, account should be 
taken of the size of populations and ecosystems  exposed to air pollution. It is therefore 
appropriate to classify the territory of each Member State into zones or agglomerations reflecting the population density. 
(6) In order to ensure that the informati on collected on air pollution is sufficiently 
representative and comparable across the Comm unity, it is important  that standardised 
measurement techniques and common criter ia for the number and location of 
measuring stations are used for the asse ssment of ambient air quality. Techniques 
other than measurements can be used to assess ambient air quality and it is therefore 
necessary to define criteria for the use and required accuracy of such techniques. 
(7) Detailed measurements of fine particul ate matter at background locations should be 
made in order to understand better the im pacts of this pollutant and to develop 
appropriate policies. Such measurements s hould be made in a manner consistent with 
those of the cooperative programme for m onitoring and evaluation of the long range 
transmission of air polluta nts in Europe (EMEP) set up under the 1979 Convention on 
Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution ap proved by Council Decision 81/462/EEC 
of 11 June 1981
12. 
(8) Air quality status should be maintained  or improved where it is already good. Where 
air quality standards are exceeded, Member St ates should take action so that they 
achieve compliance with the specified va lues but exceedances attributable to 
wintertime sanding of roads should be ignored. 
                                                 
7 OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41. Directive as amended by Commission Decision 2001/744/EC (OJ L 278, 
23.10.2001, p. 35). 
8 OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 12. 
9 OJ L 67, 9.3.2002, p. 14. 
10 OJ L 35, 5.2.1997, p. 14. Decision as amended by Commission Decision 2001/752/EC (OJ L 282, 
26.10.2001, p. 69). 
11 OJ L 23, 26.1.2005, p. 3. 
12 OJ L 171 , 27.6.1981, p. 11.  
 
EN 12   EN (9) The risk to vegetation from air pollution is  most important in places away from urban 
areas, where such vegetation is situated. The assessment of such risks and the compliance with air quality standards for the protection of vegetation should therefore focus on places away from built-up areas. 
(10) Fine particulate matter (PM
2,5) is responsible for significant negative impacts on 
human health. Further, there is as yet no identifiable threshold below which PM
2,5would not pose a risk. As such, this polluta nt should not be regulated in the same 
way as other air pollutants.  The approach should aim at a general reduction of 
concentrations in the urban background to en sure that large sec tions of the population 
benefit from improved air quality. However,  to ensure a minimum degree of health 
protection everywhere, that approach s hould be combined with an absolute 
concentration cap. 
(11) The existing long-term obj ectives of ensuring effectiv e protection against harmful 
effects on human health and vegetation and ecosystems from exposure to ozone should 
remain unchanged. An alert threshold and an information threshold for ozone should be set for the protection of the general population and sensi tive sections, respectively, 
from brief exposures to elevated ozone con centrations. Those thresholds should trigger 
the dissemination of information to the publ ic about the risks of exposure and the 
implementation of appropriate short-term m easures to reduce ozone levels where the 
alert threshold is exceeded. 
(12) Ozone is a transboundary pollutant formed in the atmosphere from the emission of 
primary pollutants addressed by Directive 2001/ 81/EC of the European Parliament and 
of the Council of 23 October 2001 on na tional emission ceilings for certain 
atmospheric pollutants
13. Progress towards the air quality targets and long term 
objectives for ozone set in this Directive should be determined by the targets and 
emission ceilings provided for in Directive 2001/81/EC. 
(13) Fixed measurements of ozone should be  mandatory in zones where the long-term 
objectives are exceeded. The use of suppl ementary means of assessment should be 
allowed for the purpose of reducing the re quired number of fixed sampling points. 
(14) Pollutant emissions to air from natural sources are capable of measurement but cannot 
be controlled. Therefore, where natural cont ributions to pollutants in ambient air can 
be determined with sufficient certainty, th ey should be subtract ed when assessing 
compliance with air quality limit values. 
(15) Existing air quality limit values shoul d remain unchanged, a lthough it should be 
possible to postpone the dead line for compliance in cases where, notwithstanding the 
implementation of appropriate pollution abatement measures, acute compliance 
problems exist in specific z ones and agglomerations. A ny postponement for a given 
zone or agglomeration should be accompanied by a comprehensive plan to ensure compliance by the revised deadline. 
(16) Plans or programmes should be develope d for zones and agglomerations within which 
concentrations of pollutants in ambient air exceed the relevant air quality standards, 
                                                
 
13 OJ L 309, 27.11.2001, p. 22. Directive as amended by the Act of Accession 2003. 
 
EN 13   EN plus any temporary margins of tolerance applicable. Air pollution is emitted from 
many different sources and activities. To ensu re coherence between different policies, 
such plans and programmes should be cons istent, and integrated with plans and 
programmes prepared pursuant to Directiv e 2001/80/EC of the Eu ropean Parliament 
and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on th e limitation of emissions of certain 
pollutants into the air from large combustion plants14, Directive 2001/81/EC, and 
Directive 2002/49/EC of the Eu ropean Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 
relating to the assessment and management of noise15. 
(17) Action plans should be draw n up indicating the measures to be taken in the short term 
where there is a risk of an exceedence of one  or more relevant ai r quality standards or 
alert thresholds in order to reduce that risk and to limit the duration of such an 
occurrence. In respect of ozone, such short- term action plans should take into account 
the provisions of Commission Decision 2004 /279/EC of 19 March 2004 concerning 
guidance for implementation of Directive 2002 /3/EC of the European Parliament and 
of the Council relating to  ozone in ambient air16. 
(18) The purpose of such plans and programmes  is the direct improvement of air quality 
and the environment and they should not th erefore be subject to  Directive 2001/42/EC 
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of 
the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment17. 
(19) Member States should consult with one  another if, following significant pollution 
originating in another Member State, the leve l of a pollutant exceeds, or is likely to 
exceed, the relevant air quality standards plus  the margin of tolerance or, as the case 
may be, the alert threshold,. The transboundary nature of specific pollutants, such as 
ozone and particulate matter, may require coordination between neighbouring Member 
States in drawing up and implementing plan s, programmes and short-term action plans 
and in informing the public. Where appr opriate, Member States should pursue 
cooperation with third countries, with particular empha sis on the early involvement of 
candidate countries. 
(20) It is necessary for the Member States  and the Commission to collect, exchange and 
disseminate air quality information in orde r to understand better  the impacts of air 
pollution and develop appropria te policies. Up-to-date information on concentrations 
of all regulated pollutants in ambient air shou ld also be readily available to the public. 
(21) In order to facilitate the handling and comparison of air quality information, data 
should be made available to the Commission in a standardised form. 
(22) It is necessary to adapt procedures for data provision, assessment and reporting of air 
quality to enable electronic means and the in ternet to be used as the main tools to 
make information available, and so that those procedures will be compatible with 
Directive […]18. 
                                                 
14 OJ L 309, 27.11.2001, p. 1.  Directive as amended by the Act of Accession 2003. 
15 OJ L 189, 18.7.2002, p.12. 
16 OJ L 87, 25.3.2004, p. 50. 
17 OJ L 197, 21.7.2001, p. 30. 
18 [OJ L […], […], p. […].] 
 
EN 14   EN (23) It is appropriate to provide for the po ssibility of adapting th e criteria and techniques 
used for the assessment of the ambient air quality to scientific and technical progress 
and the information to be provided. Furtherm ore, reference techniques for air quality 
modelling should be adopted, where available. 
(24) Since the air quality objectives of this Directive cannot be sufficiently achieved by the 
Member States alone and can therefore, by reason of the transboundary nature of air 
pollutants, be better achieved at Co mmunity level, the Community may adopt 
measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the 
Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, 
this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives. 
(25) Member States should lay down rules on pe nalties applicable to infringements of the 
provisions of this Directiv e and ensure that they are implemented. The penalties 
should be effective, prop ortionate and dissuasive. 
(26) Certain provisions of the acts repealed by this Directive should remain in force in 
order to ensure the continuance of existing air quality limits for nitrogen dioxide until they are replaced from 1 January 2010, th e continuance of air quality reporting 
provisions until new implementing measures  are adopted, and the continuance of 
obligations relating to the preliminary as sessments of air qua lity required under 
Directive 2004/107/EC. 
(27) The obligation to transpose this Directive into national law should be confined to those 
provisions which represent a substantive change as compared with the earlier Directives. The obligation to transpose the provisions which are unchanged arises 
under the earlier Directives. 
(28) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised 
in particular by the Charter of Fundament al Rights of the European Union. In 
particular, this Directive seeks to promote the integration into Community policies of a 
high level of environmental protection and the improvement of environmental quality 
in accordance with the principle of sustaina ble development as laid down in Article 37 
of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. 
(29) The measures necessary for the implementa tion of this Directive should be adopted in 
accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/ EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the 
procedures for the exercise of impl ementing powers conferred on the Commission
19, 
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
                                                 
19 OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. 
 
EN 15   EN Chapter I 
General Provisions 
Article 1 
Subject matter 
This Directive lays down meas ures aimed at the following: 
(1) defining and establishing objectives for ambi ent air quality designe d to avoid, prevent 
or reduce harmful effects on human hea lth and the environment as a whole; 
(2) assessing the ambient air qua lity in Member States on the basis of common methods 
and criteria and, in particul ar, assessing concentrations in ambient air of certain 
pollutants; 
(3) providing information on ambient air quality in order to help combat pollution and 
nuisance and to monitor long-term trends and improvements resulting from national 
and Community measures; 
(4) ensuring that such information on ambient ai r quality is made available to the public; 
(5) maintaining air quality where it is good and improving it in other cases; 
(6) promoting increased cooperation between the Member States in reducing air pollution. 
Article 2 
Definitions 
For the purposes of this Directive: 
(1) “ambient air” shall mean outdoor air in the troposphere, excluding work places; 
(2) “pollutant” shall mean any substance present in ambient air and likely to have harmful 
effects on human health and/or the environment as a whole; 
(3) “level” shall mean the concentration of a pollutant in ambient air or the deposition 
thereof on surfaces in a given time; 
(4) “assessment” shall mean any method used to  measure, calculate, predict or estimate 
levels; 
(5) “limit value” shall mean a level fixed on th e basis of scientific  knowledge, with the 
aim of avoiding, preventing or reducing ha rmful effects on human health and the 
environment as a whole, to be  attained within a given peri od and not to be exceeded 
once attained; 
 
EN 16   EN (6) “concentration cap” shall mean a level fixed on the basis of scient ific knowledge, with 
the aim of preventing unduly high risks for human  health, to be atta ined within a given 
period and not to be exceeded once attained; 
(7) “critical level” shall mean a level fixed on the basis of scientific knowledge, above 
which direct adverse effects may occur on so me receptors, such as trees, other plants 
or natural ecosystems but not on humans; 
(8) “margin of tolerance” shall mean the percen tage of the limit value by which that value 
may be exceeded subject to the conditions laid down in this Directive; 
(9) “target value” shall mean a level fixed with the aim of avoiding, preventing or 
reducing harmful effects on human hea lth and the environment as a whole,  to be 
attained where possible over a given period; 
(10) “alert threshold” shall mean a level beyond which there is a risk to human health from 
brief exposure and at which immediate steps are to be taken by the Member States; 
(11) “information threshold” shall mean a leve l beyond which there is  a risk to human 
health from brief exposure for particularly sensitive sections of  the population and for 
which immediate and appropriate  information is necessary; 
(12) “upper assessment threshold” shall mean a level below which a combination of 
measurements and modelling techniques may be used to assess ambient air quality; 
(13) “lower assessment threshold” shall m ean a level below which modelling or 
objective-estimation techniques alone may be used to assess ambient air quality; 
(14) “long-term objective” shall mean a level to be attained in the long term, save where 
not achievable through proportionate measur es, with the aim of providing effective 
protection of human health and the environment;  
(15) “zone” shall mean part of th e territory of a Member St ate, as delimited by that 
Member State for the purposes of air quality assessment and management; 
(16) “agglomeration” shall mean a zone that is a conurbation with a population in excess of 
250 000 inhabitants or, where the population is 250 000 inhabitants or less, with a 
given population density per km² to be established by the Member States; 
(17) “PM 10” shall mean particulate matter which pa sses through a size-s elective inlet as 
defined in EN 12341 with a 50% efficiency  cut-off at 10 µm aerodynamic diameter; 
(18) “PM 2,5”shall mean particulate matter which pa sses through a size- selective inlet as 
defined in EN 14907 with a 50% efficiency  cut-off at 2,5 µm aerodynamic diameter;  
(19) “average exposure indicator” shall mean an average level determined on the basis of 
measurements at urban background locati ons throughout the territory of a Member 
State and which reflects  population exposure;  
(20) “exposure reduction target” shall mean a per centage reduction of the average exposure 
indicator set with the aim of reducing harmfu l effects on human health, to be attained 
where possible over a given period; 
 
EN 17   EN (21) “urban background locations” shall mean places  in urban areas where apparent levels 
are representative of the exposur e of the general urban population; 
(22) “oxides of nitrogen” shall mean the sum of the volume mixing ratio (ppb v) of nitrogen 
monoxide (nitric oxide) and nitrogen dioxide expressed in units of mass concentration 
of nitrogen dioxide (µg/m3); 
(23) “fixed measurements” shall mean measurements taken at fixed sites, either 
continuously or by random sampling to determine the levels in accordance with the required data quality objectives; 
(24) “indicative measurements” shall mean measur ements which fulfil less strict quality 
criteria compared to fixed measurements; 
(25) “volatile organic compounds” (VOC) shall mean organic compounds from 
anthropogenic and biogenic sources, other than  methane, that are capable of producing 
photochemical oxidants by reacti ons with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight. 
Article 3 
Responsibilities 
1. Member States shall designate at the appr opriate levels the competent authorities and 
bodies responsible for the following:  
(a) assessment of ambient air quality;  (b) approval of measurement systems (methods, equipment, networks and 
laboratories); 
(c) ensuring accuracy of measurements; (d) analysis of assessment methods; (e) coordination on their territory if Community-wide quality assurance 
programmes are being orga nised by the Commission; 
(f) cooperation with the other Memb er States and the Commission.  
Where relevant, the competent authorities a nd bodies shall comply with Section C of 
Annex I. 
2. The Member States shall inform the public of the competent authority or body 
designated in relation to the task s referred to in paragraph 1.  
 
EN 18   EN Chapter II 
Assessment of Ambient Air Quality 
SECTION 1 
GENERAL  
Article 4 
Establishment of zones and agglomerations 
Member States shall establish zones and agglomerations throughout  their territory. Air quality 
assessment and air quality management shall be carried out in all zones and agglomerations. 
SECTION 2  
ASSESSMENT OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN RELATION TO SULPHUR DIOXIDE , 
NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN , PARTICULATE MATTER , LEAD , 
BENZENE AND CARBON MONOXIDE  
Article 5 
Assessment regime 
1. With respect to sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate 
matter (PM 10 and PM 2,5), lead, benzene and carbon monoxide, the upper and lower 
assessment thresholds specified in Section A of Annex II for health and vegetation protection shall apply. 
Each zone and agglomeration shall be cl assified in relation to those assessment 
thresholds. 
2. The classification referred to  in paragraph 1 shall be reviewed at least every five 
years in accordance with the procedure laid down in Section B of Annex II.  
However, classifications shall be reviewed mo re frequently in the event of significant 
changes in activities relevant to the ambi ent concentrations of sulphur dioxide, 
nitrogen dioxide or, where relevant, oxid es of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM
10, 
PM 2,5), lead, benzene or carbon monoxide. 
Article 6 
Assessment criteria 
1. Member States shall undertake assessments of  ambient air quality with respect to the 
pollutants referred to in Ar ticle 5 throughout their territo ry, in accordance with the 
criteria laid down in paragraphs  2, 3 and 4 of this Article.  
 
EN 19   EN 2. In all zones and agglomerations where the level of pollutants in ambient air referred 
to in paragraph 1 exceeds the upper as sessment threshold es tablished for those 
pollutants, fixed measurements shall be used to assess the ambient air quality. Those fixed measurements may be supplemented by modelling techniques and/or indicative 
measurements to provide adequate information on ambient air quality. 
3. In all zones and agglomerations where the level of pollutants in ambient air referred 
to in paragraph 1 is below the upper assessment threshold established for those pollutants, a combination of fixed measur ements and modelling techniques and/or 
indicative measurements may be used to assess the ambient air quality.  
4. In all zones and agglomerations where the level of pollutants in ambient air referred 
to in paragraph 1 is below the lower a ssessment threshold established for those 
pollutants, modelling techniques or objective- estimation techniques or both shall be 
sufficient for the assessment of the ambient air quality.  
5. In addition to the assessments referred to  in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, measurements 
shall be made, at background locations away from significant sources of air 
pollution, for the purposes of providing, as a minimum, information on the mass 
concentration and the chemical specia tion of fine particulate matter (PM
2,5) on an 
annual average basis and shall be conducte d according to the following criteria:  
(a) one sampling point shall be installed every 100 000 km2; 
(b) each Member State shall set up at least one measuring station or may, by 
agreement with adjoining Member St ates, set up one or several common 
measuring stations, covering the relevant  neighbouring zones, to achieve the 
necessary spatial resolution;  
(c) where appropriate, monitoring shall be  co-ordinated with the monitoring 
strategy and measurement programme of the Cooperative Programme for 
Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-ra nge Transmission of Air Pollutants in 
Europe (EMEP); 
(d) Section A of Annex I shall apply in re lation to the data quality objectives for 
mass measurements of particulate matte r and Annex IV shall apply in its 
entirety.  
Member States shall also inform the Co mmission of the measurement methods used 
in the measurement of the chemical co mposition of fine particulate matter (PM 2,5). 
Article 7 
Sampling points 
1. The location of sampling points for the meas urement of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen 
dioxide and oxides of nitrog en, particulate matter (PM 10, PM 2,5), lead, benzene 
and carbon monoxide in ambient air shall be determined in accordance with the criteria listed in Annex III. 
 
EN 20   EN 2. In each zone or agglomeration where fi xed measurements are the sole source of 
information for assessing air quality, th e number of sampling points for each 
relevant pollutant shall not be less th an the minimum number of sampling points 
specified in Section A of Annex V. 
However, for zones and agglomerations within which information from fixed 
measurement sampling points is supplement ed by information from modelling and/or 
indicative measurement, the total number of sampling points specified in Section A of Annex V may be reduced by up to 50%, provided that the following conditions are 
met:  
(a) the supplementary methods provid e sufficient information for the 
assessment of air quality with regard to limit values, concentration caps or alert 
thresholds, as well as adequate information for the public;  
(b) the number of sampling points to be inst alled and the spatial resolution of other 
techniques are sufficient for the concentration of the relevant pollutant to be established in accordance with the data quality objectives specified in Section A of Annex I and enable asse ssment results to meet the criteria 
specified in Section B of Annex I. 
In the case referred to in the second subpa ragraph, the results of modelling and/or 
indicative measurement shall be taken into  account for the assessment of air quality 
with respect to the limit valu es or concentration caps. 
Article 8  
Reference measurement methods 
Member States shall apply the reference meas urement methods and criteria specified in 
Section A and Section C of Annex VI. 
Other measurement methods may be used subject  to the conditions set out in Section B of 
Annex VI. 
SECTION 3 
ASSESSMENT OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN RELATION TO OZONE  
Article 9 
Assessment criteria 
1. Where, in a zone or agglomeration, con centrations of ozone have exceeded the long 
term objectives specified in Section A3 of Annex VII durin g any of the previous five 
years of measurement, fixed measurements shall be taken.  
2. Where fewer than five years’ data are available, Member States may, for the 
purposes of determining whether the long-te rm objectives referred to in paragraph 1 
have been exceeded during those five years, combine the results from measurement 
 
EN 21   EN campaigns of short duration carried out when  and where levels ar e likely to be at 
their highest, with the resu lts obtained from emission inventories and modelling.  
Article 10  
Location of sampling points for the measurement of ozone 
1. The location of sampling points for the meas urement of ozone shall be determined in 
accordance with the criteria set out in Annex VIII. 
2. The sampling points for fixed measurements of ozone in each zone or agglomeration 
within which measurement is the sole source  of information for assessing air quality 
shall not be less than the minimum number of sampling points specified in Section A 
of Annex IX.  
However, for zones and agglomerations within which information from sampling 
points for fixed measurements is suppl emented by information from modelling 
and/or indicative measurements, the number of sampling points specified in Section A of Annex IX may be reduced pr ovided that the following conditions are 
met:  
(a) the supplementary methods provide sufficient information for the assessment 
of air quality with regard to target values, long-term objectives, information 
and alert thresholds;  
(b) the number of sampling points to be inst alled and the spatial resolution of other 
techniques are sufficient for the concentr ation of ozone to be established in 
accordance with the data quali ty objectives specified in Section A of Annex I 
and enable assessment results to meet the criteria specified in Section B of 
Annex I;  
(c) the number of sampling points in each zone or agglomeration amounts to at 
least one sampling point per two million inhabitants or one sampling point per 
50 000 km
2, whichever produces the greater number of sampling points, but 
must not be less than one sampling point  in each zone or agglomeration;  
(d) nitrogen dioxide is measured at all remaining sampling points except at rural 
background stations.  
In the case referred to in the second subpa ragraph, the results of modelling and/or 
indicative measurement shall be taken into  account for the assessment of air quality 
with respect to the target values. 
3. Nitrogen dioxide shall be measured at a minimum of 50% of the ozone sampling 
points required under Section A of Annex IX . That measurement shall be continuous 
except at rural background stations, as referr ed to in Section A of Annex VIII, where 
other measurement methods may be used. 
4. In zones and agglomerations where, dur ing each of the previous five years of 
measurement, concentrations are below the long-term objectives, the number of 
 
EN 22   EN sampling points for fixed measurements shal l be determined in accordance with 
Section B of Annex IX. 
5. Each Member State shall ensure that at  least one sampling poi nt is installed and 
operated in its territory to supply data on concentrations of the ozone precursor 
substances listed in Annex X. Each Member State shall choose the number and siting of the stations at which ozone precursor su bstances are to be measured, taking into 
account the objectives and met hods laid down in Annex X. 
Article 11 
Reference measurement methods 
1. Member States shall apply the reference me thod for measurement of ozone, set out in 
point 8 of Section A of Annex VI. Other m easuring methods may be used subject to 
the conditions set out in Section B of Annex VI. 
2. Each Member State shall inform the Comm ission of the methods it uses to sample 
and measure VOC, as listed in Annex X.  
Chapter III 
Ambient Air Quality Management 
Article 12 
Requirements where the levels are lower than  the limit values and concentration caps 
In zones and agglomerations where the leve ls of sulphur dioxide , nitrogen dioxide, PM 10, 
PM 2,5, lead, benzene and carbon monoxide in ambien t air are below the re spective limit values 
or concentration caps specified in Annexes XI a nd XIV, Member States shall ensure that that 
air quality status is maintained. 
Article 13 
Limit values for the prot ection of human health 
1. Member States shall ensure that, throughout their territory, levels of sul phur 
dioxide, PM 10, lead, and carbon monoxide in ambient air do not exceed the limit 
values laid down in Annex XI. 
In respect of nitrogen dioxide and benzene,  the limit values specified in Annex XI 
may not be exceeded from the dates specified therein. 
The margins of tolerance laid down in A nnex XI shall apply in accordance with 
Article 21. 
2. The alert thresholds for concentrations of sulphur dioxide a nd nitrogen dioxide in 
ambient air shall be those laid down in Section A of Annex XII. 
 
EN 23   EN 3. Member States may designate zones or aggl omerations within wh ich limit values for 
PM 10 are exceeded owing to concentrations of PM 10 in ambient air due to the 
resuspension of particulates foll owing road-sanding in winter-time. 
Member States shall send the Commission lists of any such zones or agglomerations 
together with information on concentrations and sources of PM 10 therein. 
When informing the Commission in accordance with Article 25, Member States shall 
provide the necessary evidence to demonstrat e that any exceedances are due to such 
resuspended particulates and that reasonable measures have  been taken to lower the 
concentrations. 
Without prejudice to Article 19,  in the case of the zones or agglomerations referred 
to in the first subparagraph of this para graph, Member States need establish the 
plans or programmes provided for in Article 21 only in so far as exceedances are attributable to PM
10 sources other than road-sanding in wintertime. 
Article 14 
Critical levels 
1. Member States shall, in zones away fr om agglomerations a nd other built-up areas, 
ensure compliance with the critical levels specified in Annex XIII.  
Where there is a significant risk of adverse effects, Member States  may apply critical 
levels also inside agglomera tions and other built-up areas. 
2. Where fixed measurements are the sole source of information for assessing air 
quality, the number of sampling points sha ll not be less than the minimum number 
specified in Section C of Annex V. Wher e that information is supplemented by 
indicative measurements or modelling then the minimum number of sampling points may be reduced by up to 50% so long as the assessed concentrations of the relevant pollutant can be established in accordance wi th the data quality objectives specified 
in Section A of Annex I. 
Article 15 
PM
2,5 exposure reduction target and concentration cap for the protection of human 
health 
1. Member States shall ensure that  the exposure reduc tion target for PM 2,5 laid down in 
Section B of Annex XIV is achieved w ithin the timeframe specified therein. 
2. The average exposure indicator for PM 2,5 shall be assessed in accordance with 
Section A of Annex XIV.  
3. Each Member State shall, in accordance w ith Annex III, ensure that the distribution 
and the individual number of sampling points on which the average exposure 
indicator for PM 2,5 is based reflect the general p opulation exposure adequately. The 
 
EN 24   EN number of sampling points shall be no less than that determined by application of 
Section B of Annex V.  
4. Member States shall ensure that concentrations of PM 2,5 in ambient air do not exceed 
the concentration cap laid down in Secti on C of Annex XIV throughout their territory 
as from the date specified therein.  
5. The margins of tolerance laid down in Section C of Annex XIV shall apply in 
accordance with Article 21. 
Article 16 
Requirements in zones and agglomerations where ozone 
concentrations exceed the long-term objectives 
1. Member States shall ensure that the targ et values and long-term  objectives specified 
in Annex VII are attained within  the timeframe set out therein. 
2. For zones and agglomerations in which a target value is exceeded, Member States 
shall ensure that the plan or programme prepared pursuant to Article 6 of Directive 2001/81/EC is implemented in order to attain the target values, save where not achievable through proportionate measures, as from the date specified in Section A.2 of Annex VII.  
Where, in accordance with Article 21(1) of this Directive, plan s or programmes must 
be prepared or implemented in respect of pollutants other than ozone, Member States 
shall, where appropriate, prepare and im plement integrated plans or programmes 
covering all pollutants concerned.  
3. For zones and agglomerations in which the levels of ozone in ambient air are 
higher than the long-term objectives but below, or equal to, the target values, 
Member States shall prepare and implemen t cost-effective measures with the aim 
of achieving the long-term objectives. Those m easures shall, at l east, be consistent 
with all the plans and programmes referred to in paragraph 2. 
Article 17 
Requirements in zones and agglomerations where ozone 
concentrations meet the long-term objectives 
In zones and agglomerations in which ozone levels meet the long-te rm objectives, Member 
States shall, in so far as factors including the transboundary nature of ozone pollution and 
meteorological conditions permit, maintain those levels below the l ong-term objectives and 
shall preserve through proportionate measur es the best ambient air quality compatible 
with sustainable development and a high le vel of environmenta l and human health 
protection. 
 
EN 25   EN Article  18 
Measures required in the event of informat ion or alert thresholds being exceeded 
Where the information threshold specified in A nnex XII or any of the alert thresholds laid 
down therein is exceeded, Member States shall take the necessary steps to inform the public 
by means of radio, television, ne wspapers or the Internet.  
Member States shall also forward to the Co mmission without delay, on a provisional basis, 
information concerning the levels recorded a nd the duration of the periods during which the 
alert threshold or informa tion threshold was exceeded.  
Article  19 
Emissions from natural sources  
1. Member States may designate zones or a gglomerations where the exceedance of limit 
values or concentration caps fo r a given pollutant is attributable to natural sources. 
Member States shall send the Commission lists of any such zones or 
agglomerations together with informati on on concentrations and sources and the 
evidence demonstrating that the exceedances are attributable to natural sources. 
2. Where the Commission has been informed  of an exceedence attributable to 
natural sources in accordance with para graph 1, that exceedence shall not be 
considered as an exceedance for the purposes of this Directive. 
Article 20 
Postponement of attainment deadlines a nd exemption from the obligation to apply 
certain limit values 
1. Where, in a given zone or agglomerati on, conformity with the limit values for 
nitrogen dioxide or benzene or the concentration cap for PM 2,5 cannot be achieved by 
the deadlines specified in Annex XI or in  Section C of Annex XIV, a Member State 
may postpone those deadlines by a maximum of five years for that particular zone or 
agglomeration, subject to the following conditions:  
(a) establishment of a plan or a programme in accordance with Article 21 for the 
zone or agglomeration to which the postponement would apply, and 
communication of that plan or programme to the Commission;  
(b) establishment of an air pollution abat ement programme for the period of the 
postponement, which incorporates at leas t the information listed in Section B 
of Annex XV, and demonstrates that conf ormity will be achieved with the limit 
values or concentration caps before the new deadline, and communication of 
that programme to the Commission.  
 
EN 26   EN 2. Where, in a given zone or agglomerati on, conformity with the limit values for 
sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and PM 10 as specified in Annex XI cannot be 
achieved because of site-specific dispersi on characteristics, adverse climatic 
conditions or transboundary contributions, Me mber States shall be exempt from the 
obligation to apply those limit values until 31 December 2009 at the latest, provided that the conditions laid down in pa ragraph 1(a) and (b) are fulfilled. 
3. Where a Member State applies paragraphs 1 or 2, it shall ensure that the limit value 
or concentration cap for each  pollutant is not exceeded by more than the maximum 
margin of tolerance specified in Annexe s XI or XIV for each of the pollutants 
concerned. 
4. Member States shall notify the Commissi on without delay where, in their view, 
paragraphs 1 or 2 are applicable, and shall communicate the plans or programmes 
and air pollution abatement programme re ferred to in paragraph 1 including all 
relevant information necessary for the Commission to assess whether or not the 
relevant conditions are satisfied.  
Where the Commission has raised no objections within nine months of receipt of that 
notification, the relevant condi tions for the application of paragraphs 1 or 2 shall be 
deemed to be satisfied. 
If objections are raised, the Commission ma y require Member States to adjust or 
provide new plans or programmes or air pollution abatement programmes. 
Chapter IV 
Plans and Programmes 
Article  21 
Air quality plans or programmes 
1. Where, in given zones or agglomerations, the levels of  pollutants in ambient air 
exceed any limit value or target value or c oncentration cap, plus any relevant margin 
of tolerance in each case, Member States shall ensure that plans or programmes are established for those zones and agglomerations  in order to achieve the related limit or 
target value or concentration cap specified in Annexes XI and XIV. 
Those plans or programmes shall incorporate at least the information listed in 
Section A of Annex XV and be communicat ed to the Commission without delay. 
2. Member States shall, to the extent feasible, ensure consistency with other plans 
required under Directive 2001/80/ EC, Directive 2001/81/EC or 
Directive 2002/49/EC in order to achieve  the relevant environmental objectives. 
3. The plans or programmes referred to in paragraph 1 and the air pollution abatement 
programmes referred to in Ar ticle 20(1)(b) shall not be subject to assessment under 
Directive 2001/42/EC. 
 
EN 27   EN Article  22 
Short-term action plans 
1. Where, in a given zone or agglomeration, th ere is a risk that th e levels of pollutants 
in ambient air will exceed one or more of the limit values, concentration caps, target 
values or alert thresholds specified in A nnexes VII, XI, Section A of Annex XII, and 
Annex XIV, Member States shall, where appropriate, draw up action plans indicating the measures to be taken in the short term in order to reduce that risk and to limit the 
duration of such an occurrence.  
However, where there is a risk that the al ert threshold for ozone specified in Section 
B of Annex XII will be exceeded, Member St ates shall only draw up such short-term 
action plans when in their opinion there is  a significant potential , taking into account 
national geographical, meteorological and economic conditions, to  reduce the risk, 
duration or severity of such an exceed ence. When drawing up such a short-term 
action plan Member States shall ta ke account of Decision 2004/279/EC.  
2. The short-term action plans referred to in paragraph 1 may, depending on the 
individual case, provide for measures to control and, where necessary, suspend 
activities, including motor-vehicle traffic, which contribute to the risk of the respective limit values or concentration caps or target value or alert threshold being 
exceeded. Those action plans may also include effective measures in relation to the use of industrial plants or products. 
3. Member States shall make availabl e to the public and to appropriate 
organisations such as environmental or ganisations, consumer organisations, 
organisations representing the interests of sensit ive population groups and 
other relevant health care bodies both the results of their investigations on the 
feasibility and the content of specific  short-term action plans as well as 
information on the implementation of these plans.  
Article  23 
Transboundary air pollution 
1. Where any alert threshold, limit or targ et value or concentration cap plus any 
relevant margin of tolerance or long-ter m objective is exceeded  due to significant 
transboundary transport of air pollutants or  their precursors, the Member States 
concerned shall cooperate and, where appropr iate, draw up joint activities, such as 
the preparation of joint or coordinated plans or programme s pursuant to Article 21 in 
order to remove such exceedences through  the application of appropriate but 
proportionate measures. 
2. The Commission shall be invited to be present and to assist  in any cooperation 
referred to in paragraph 1. Where appropr iate, the Commission shall, taking into 
account the reports established pursuant to Article 9 of Di rective 2001/81/EC, 
consider whether further action should be  taken at Community level in order to 
reduce precursor emissions respons ible for transboundary pollution. 
 
EN 28   EN 3. Member States shall, if appropriate pursuant to Artic le 22, prepare and implement 
joint short-term action plans covering ne ighbouring zones in other Member States. 
Member States shall ensure that neighbour ing zones in other Member States which 
have developed short-term action plan s receive all appropriate information. 
4. Where the information threshold or aler t thresholds are exceeded in zones or 
agglomerations close to national borders, information shall be provided as soon as 
possible to the competent authorities in the neighbouring Member States concerned. 
That information shall also be  made available to the public. 
5. In drawing up plans or programmes as prov ided for in paragraphs 1 and 3 and in 
informing the public as referred to in pa ragraph 4, Member States shall, where 
appropriate, pursue cooperation with third countries, and in particular with candidate 
countries. 
Chapter V 
Information and Reporting 
Article  24 
Public information 
1. Member States shall ensure that the public  as well as appropriate organisations such 
as environmental organisations, consumer organisations, organi sations representing 
the interests of sensitive populations a nd other relevant health-care bodies are 
informed, adequately and in good time, of the following: 
(a) ambient air quality in accordance with Annex XVI;  
(b) any postponement decisions pursuant to Article 20(1); (c) any exemptions pursuant to Article 20(2);  (d) plans or programmes and air polluti on abatement programmes as provided for 
in Article 16(2), Articl e 20(1)(b) and Article 21. 
The information shall be made available free of charge by means of any easily 
accessible media including the internet or any other appropriate means of 
telecommunication, and shall take into account the provisions laid down in 
Directive […]. 
2. Member State shall make available to the public comprehensiv e annual reports for 
all pollutants covered by this Directive.  
Those reports shall, as a minimum, summ arise the levels exceeding limit values, 
concentration caps, target values, long-te rm objectives, information thresholds and 
alert threshold, for the relevant averag ing periods. That information shall be 
combined with a summary assessment of the effects of those exceedences. The 
reports may include, where appropriate, further information and assessments on 
 
EN 29   EN forest protection as well as information on other pollutants for which monitoring 
provisions are specified in this Directive, such as, inter alia, se lected non-regulated 
ozone precursor substances as li sted in Section B of Annex X. 
Article  25 
Transmission of information and reporting 
Member States shall ensure that information on ambient air quality is made available to the 
Commission.  
Article  26 
Amending and implementing measures 
1. The Commission shall in accordance with th e procedure referred to in Article 27(2), 
amend, where necessary, Annexes I to VI, Annexes VIII to X and Annex XV.  
However, the amendments may not have th e effect of directly or indirectly 
modifying either of the following: 
(a) the limit values, concentration caps, e xposure reduction requirements, critical 
levels, target values, information or al ert thresholds or long-term objectives 
specified in Annex VII a nd Annexes XI to XIV;  
(b) dates for the compliance with any of the pa rameters referred to in point (a).  
2. The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(2), 
determine the information to be made available by Member States pursuant to 
Article 25.  
The Commission shall also identify ways of streamlining the way such data are 
reported and the reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and 
individual stations measuring ambient ai r pollution within the Member States, in 
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(2). 
3. The Commission shall draw up guidelines for the agreements on setting up common 
measuring stations as referred to in Article 6(5). 
4. The Commission shall publish guidance on  the demonstration of equivalence 
referred to in Section B of Annex VI. 
 
EN 30   EN Chapter VI 
Committee, transitional and final provisions 
Article  27 
Committee 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee, called “the Ambient Air Quality 
Committee”, hereinafter “the Committee”. 
2. Where reference is made to this  paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of 
Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having re gard to the provisions of Article 8 
thereof.  
The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three 
months. 
3. The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure. 
Article  28 
Penalties 
The Member States shall lay down the rules on pe nalties applicable to infringements of the 
national provisions adopted pursua nt to this Directive and shall take all measures necessary to 
ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be e ffective, proportionate 
and dissuasive. The Member States shall notif y those provisions to the Commission by the 
date specified in Articl e 31(1) at the latest an d shall notify it without delay of any subsequent 
amendment affecting them.  
Article  29 
Repeal and transitional provisions 
1. Directives 96/62/EC, 1999/30/EC, 2000/69/EC , and 2002/3/EC are repealed as from 
the date indicated in  Article 31(1) of this Direct ive, without prejudice to the 
obligations on the Member States relating to time-limits for transposition or application of those Directives. 
However, the following Articles shall remain in force: (a) Article 5 of Directive 96/62/EC until 31 December 2010; (b) Article 11(1) of Directive 96/62 /EC and Article 10(1) and (2) of 
Directive 2002/3/EC until the entry into  force of the implementing measures 
referred to in Article 26( 2) of this Directive; 
(c) Article 9(3) and (4) of Dire ctive 1999/30/EC until 31 December 2009. 
 
EN 31   EN 2. References to the repealed Directives shall be construed as references to this 
Directive and shall be read in accordance w ith the correlation ta ble in Annex XVII. 
3. Decision 97/101/EC is repealed with e ffect from the entry into force of the 
implementing measures referred to in Article 26(2) of this Directive. 
Article  30 
Review 
The Commission will review, within five years following the adoption of this Directive, the 
provisions related to PM 2,5. In particular the Commission will develop and propose a detailed 
approach to establish legally binding exposure reduction obliga tions which take account of 
differing future air quality situations and reduction potentials in the Member States. 
Article  31 
Transposition 
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative 
provisions necessary to comply with th is Directive by 31 December 2007 at the 
latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those 
provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.  
When Member States adopt those provisions,  they shall contain a reference to this 
Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.  
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions 
of national law which they adopt in th e field covered by this Directive.  
Article  32 
This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union . 
Article  33 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, […] 
For the European Parliament For the Council 
The President The President […] […] 
 
EN 32   EN ANNEX I  
DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES 
A. D ATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR AM BIENT AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT  
  
Sulphur 
dioxide, 
nitrogen 
dioxide and 
oxides of 
nitro gen and 
carbon 
monoxide 
  
Benzene 
  
Particulate 
matter 
(PM 10/PM 2,5)  
and lead  
Ozone  
and related  
NO and NO 2 
 
Fixed measurements  (1) 
Uncertainty 
Minimum data capture  Minimum time coverage: - urban background and traffic - industrial sites  
15 % 
90 % 
  
25% 
90 %  
35 %  
(2) 
 90 %  
25% 
90%  
15 % 
90 % during summer75 % during winter 
 
 
Indicative measurements  
Uncertainty 
Minimum data capture 
Minimum time coverage 
  
 25 % 
90 % 
14 %
(4)  
  
 30 % 
90 % 
14 %
(3)   
 50% 
90% 
14 %
(4)   
 30 % 
90 % 
>10 % during summer 
 
Modellin g uncertainty : 
Hourly 
Eight-hour averages 
Daily averages Annual averages  
  
 
50% 
50% 
50% 30% 
  
 
- 
- 
- 50% 
  
 
 
 
not yet defined 50%  
 
 
 
50% 50% 
 
 
Objective estimation 
Uncertainty 
  
 75 % 
  
 100 % 
  
 100 %  
 75 % 
 
(1) M ember States may apply random measurements  instead of continuous measurements for 
benzene and particulate matter if they can demonstrate to the Commission that the 
uncertainty, including the uncertainty due to random sampling, meets the quality objective 
of 25 % and the time coverage is still larger than the minimum time coverage for indicative measurements. Random sampling must be evenly distributed over the year in order to avoid 
skewing of results. The uncertainty due to random sampling may be determined by the 
procedure laid down in ISO 11222 (2002) “Air Quality – Determination of the Uncertainty of the Time Average of Air Quality Measurements”. If random measurements are used to 
assess the number of exceedences (N
[estimate] ) of the PM 10 daily limit value, the following 
correction should be applied: N [estimate]  = N [measurement]  x 365 days / number of measured days.
(2) Distributed over the year to be representative of various conditions for climate and traffic. 
(3) One day's measurement a week at random, even ly distributed over the year, or 8 weeks 
evenly distributed over the year. 
(4) One measurement a week at random, evenly di stributed over the year, or 8 weeks evenly 
distributed over the year. 
 
EN 33   EN The uncertainty (expressed at a 95% confiden ce level) of the assessment methods will 
be evaluated in accordance with the princi ples of the CEN Guid e to the Expression 
of Uncertainty in Measurement (ENV 13005-1999), the methodology of ISO 5725:1994 and the guidance provided in the CEN report ‘Air Quality – Approach to Uncertainty Estimation for Ambient Air Reference Measurement Methods’ (CR 14377:2002E). The percentages for uncertainty in the above table 
are given for individual measurements averaged over the period considered by the limit value, for a 95% confidence interval. The uncertainty for the fixed measurements shall be interpreted as being applicable in the regi on of the appropriate 
limit value.  
The uncertainty for modelling and objec tive estimation is defined as the 
maximum deviation of the measured and calculated concentration levels, over the period considered, by the li mit value, without taking into  account the timing of the 
events. 
The requirements for minimum data capture and time coverage do not include losses 
of data due to the regul ar calibration or the no rmal maintenance of the 
instrumentation. 
B. R
ESULTS OF AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT  
The following information shall be compile d for zones or agglomerations within 
which sources other than measurement are employed to supplement information from 
measurement or as the sole m eans of air quality assessment: 
– a description of assessment activities carried out; 
– the specific methods used, with refere nces to descriptions of the method; 
– the sources of data and information; 
– a description of results, incl uding uncertainties and, in particular, the extent of 
any area or, if relevant, the length of ro ad within the zone or agglomeration 
over which concentrations ex ceed any limit value, concentration cap, target value 
or long-term objective plus margin of tole rance, if applicable, and of any area 
within which concentrations exceed the upper assessment threshold or the 
lower assessment threshold;  
– the population potentially exposed to le vels in excess of any limit value. 
C. Q UALITY ASSURANCE FOR AMBIENT AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT : DATA VALIDATION  
1. To ensure accuracy of measurements and compliance with the data quality objectives 
laid down in Section A of this Annex, th e appropriate competent authorities and 
bodies designated pursuant to Articl e 3 shall ensure the following:  
– that all measurements undertaken in re lation to the assessm ent of ambient air 
quality pursuant to Articles 6 and 9 are traceable; 
 
EN 34   EN – that institutions operating networks and i ndividual stations have an established 
quality assurance and quali ty control system whic h provides for regular 
maintenance to assure the accuracy of measuring devices; 
– that a quality assurance/quality control pr ocess is established for the process of 
data collection and reporting and that institutions appointed for this task 
actively participate in the relate d Community-wide quality assurance 
programmes; 
– that the national laboratories, as a ppointed by the appropriate competent 
authority or body designated pursuant to  Article 3, that are taking part in 
Community-wide intercomparisons cove ring pollutants regulated in this 
Directive, are accredited according to  EN/ISO 17025 for the methods being 
performed in these intercomparisons, or  are in the process of accreditation. 
These laboratories shall be involved in  the coordination on Member States 
territory of the Community wide quality assurance programmes to be organized by the Commission and shall also coordinate, on the national level, the appropriate realization of reference methods and the demonstration of equivalence of non-reference methods. 
2. All reported data shall be deemed to be valid. 
 
EN 35   EN ANNEX II  
DETERMINATION OF REQUIREM ENTS FOR ASSESSMENT OF 
CONCENTRATIONS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND 
OXIDES OF NITROGEN, PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 10 and PM 2,5), LEAD, 
CARBON MONONXIDE AND BENZENE IN AMBIENT AIR WITHIN A ZONE 
OR AGGLOMERATION 
A. U PPER AND LOWER ASSESSMENT THRESHOLDS  
The following uppe r and lower assessment th resholds will apply: 
(a) Sulphur dioxide 
 Health protection Vegetation protection 
Upper assessment threshold 60 % of 24-hour limit value (75 µg/m3, 
not to be exceeded more than 3 times in any calendar year) 60 % of winter limit value (12 µg/m
3) 
Lower assessment threshold 40 % of 24-hour limit value (50 µg/m3, 
not to be exceeded more than 3 times 
in any calendar year) 40 % of winter limit value (8 µg/m3) 
(b) Nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen 
 Hourly limit value for the 
protection of human 
health (NO 2) Annual limit value for 
the protection of human 
health (NO 2) Annual limit value for the 
protection of vegetation 
(NOx) 
Upper assessment 
threshold 70 % of limit value 
(140 µg/m3, not to be 
exceeded more than 18 times in any calendar year) 80 % of limit value 
(32 µg/m
3) 80 % of limit value  
(24 µg/m3) 
Lower assessment 
threshold 50 % of limit value (100 
µg/m3, not to be exceeded 
more than 18 times in any 
calendar year) 65 % of limit value 
(26 µg/m3) 65 % of limit value 
(19,5 µg/m3) 
(c) Particulate matter (PM 10 /PM 2,5) 
 24-hour average Annual 
average 
PM 10 Annual 
average 
PM 2,5 
Upper assessment threshold 30 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more 
than 7 times in any calendar year 14 µg/m3 10 µg/m3 
Lower assessment threshold 20 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more 
than 7 times in any calendar year 10 µg/m3 7 µg/m3 
 
EN 36   EN (d) Lead 
 
Annual average 
Upper assessment threshold 70% of limit value (0,35 µg/m3) 
Lower assessment threshold 50% of limit value (0,25 µg/m3) 
(e) Benzene 
 
Annual average 
Upper assessment threshold 70 % of limit value (3,5 µg/m3) 
Lower assessment threshold 40 % of limit value (2 µg/m3) 
(f) Carbon Monoxide 
 Eight-hour average 
Upper assessment threshold 70 % of limit value (7 mg/m3) 
Lower assessment threshold 50 % of limit value (5 mg/m3) 
B. D ETERMINATION OF EXCEEDENCES OF UPPER AND LOWER ASSESSMENT 
THRESHOLDS  
Exceedances of upper and lower assessment thres holds shall be determined on the basis of 
concentrations during the previous five year s where sufficient data are available. An 
assessment threshold shall be deemed to have been exceeded if it has been exceeded during at 
least three separate years out of  those previous five years. 
Where fewer than five years' data are availa ble, Member States may combine measurement 
campaigns of short duration during the period of th e year and at locations likely to be typical 
of the highest pollution levels with results  obtained from inform ation from emission 
inventories and modelling to determine ex ceedances of the upper and lower assessment 
thresholds. 
 
EN 37   EN ANNEX III  
LOCATION OF SAMPLING POINTS  FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF 
SULPHUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN, 
PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 10 and PM 2,5), LEAD, CARBON MONOXIDE AND 
BENZENE IN AMBIENT AIR 
The following shall apply to fixed measurements: 
A. M ACROSCALE SITING  
(a) Protection of human health 
1. Sampling points directed at the protection of  human health shall be sited in such a 
way as to provide data on the following: 
– the areas within zones and agglomerati ons where the highest concentrations 
occur to which the population is  likely to be directly or  indirectly exposed for a 
period which is significant in relation to the averaging period of the limit 
value(s) or concentration cap(s); 
– levels in other areas within the zones and agglomerations which are 
representative of the exposure of the general population. 
2. Sampling points shall in general be sited in such a way as to avoid measuring very 
small micro-environments in  their immediate vicinity, wh ich means that a sampling 
point must be sited in such a way that the air sampled is represen tative of air quality 
in a surrounding area of no less than 200 m2 at traffic-orientated  sites and at least 
250 m x 250 m at industrial sites, where feasible. 
3. Urban background sites shall be located so th at their pollution level is influenced by 
the integrated contribution from all sources  upwind of the station. The pollution level 
should not be dominated by a single source unl ess such a situation is typical for a 
larger urban area. Those sampling points sha ll typically be repres entative for several 
square kilometres. 
4. Where the objective is to assess background levels, the sa mpling site shall not be 
influenced by agglomerations or  industrial sites in its vicini ty, i.e. sites closer than a 
few kilometres. 
5. Where contributions from industrial sources are to be assessed, at least one sampling 
point shall be installed downwind of the sour ce in the nearest residential area. Where 
the background concentration is not known, an additional sampling point shall be 
situated within the main wind direction. 
6. Sampling points shall, where possible, also be representative of similar locations not 
in their immediate vicinity. 
7. Account shall be taken of th e need to locate sampling point s on islands where that is 
necessary for the protection of human health. 
 
EN 38   EN (b) Protection of vegetation 
Sampling points targeted at the protection of vegetation shall be sited more than 
20 km away from agglomerations or more th an 5 km away from other built-up areas, 
industrial installations or motorways, wh ich means that a sampling point must be 
sited in such a way that the air sampled is representative of air quality in a surrounding area of at least 1 000 km
2. A Member State may provide for a sampling 
point to be sited at a lesser distance or to  be representative of air quality in a less 
extended area, taking account of geographical conditions. 
Account shall be taken of the need  to assess air quality on islands. 
B. M ICROSCALE SITING  
In so as far as is practica ble the following shall apply: 
– the flow around the inlet sampling probe sh all be unrestricted (f ree in an arc of 
at least 270°) withou t any obstructions affecting the airflow in the vicinity of 
the sampler (normally as many metres away from buildings, balconies, trees and other obstacles as corre sponds to more than twi ce the height by which the 
obstacle protrudes above the sampler; at least 0,5 m from the nearest building 
in the case of sampling points repres enting air quality at the building line); 
– in general, the inlet sampling point sha ll be between 1,5 m (the breathing zone) 
and 4 m above the ground. Higher positions (up to 8 m) may be necessary in 
some circumstances. Higher siting may al so be appropriate if the station is 
representative of a large area; 
– the inlet probe shall not be positioned in the immediate vicinity of sources in 
order to avoid the direct intake of emissions unmixed with ambient air; 
– the sampler’s exhaust outlet shall be positioned so that recirculation of exhaust 
air to the sampler inlet is avoided; 
– location of traffic-orientated samplers: 
(a) for all pollutants, such sampling points shall be at least 25 m from the 
edge of major junctions and at least 4 m from the centre of the nearest 
traffic lane; 
(b) for nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxi de, inlets shall be no more than 
5 m from the kerbside; 
(c) for particulate matter, lead and benzene, inlets shall be sited so as to be 
representative of air qu ality near to the buildin g line but no more than 
10 m from the kerbside. 
The following factors may also be taken into account: – interfering sources; 
 
EN 39   EN – security; 
– access; 
– availability of electrical pow er and telephone communications; 
– visibility of the site in relation to its surroundings; 
– safety of the public and operators; 
– the desirability of co-locating samp ling points for different pollutants; 
– planning requirements. 
C. D OCUMENTATION AND REVIEW OF SITE SELECTION  
The site-selection procedures shall be fully documented at the classification stage by 
such means as compass-point photographs of the surrounding ar ea and a detailed 
map. Sites shall be reviewed at regular intervals with repeated documentation to ensure that selection criteria remain valid over time. 
 
EN 40   EN ANNEX IV  
MEASUREMENTS AT BACKGROUND LOCATIONS IRRE SPECTIVE OF 
CONCENTRATION 
A. O BJECTIVES  
The main objectives of such measurements are to  ensure that adequate information is made 
available on levels in the background. This in formation is essential to judge the enhanced 
levels in more polluted areas (such as urba n background, industry related locations, traffic 
related locations), assess the possible contributi on from long range transport of air pollutants 
and to support source apportionment analysis. It is essential for the unde rstanding of specific 
pollutants such as particulate matter. Further, this background information is essential for the 
increased use of modelling also in urban areas. 
B. S UBSTANCES  
Measurement of PM 2,5 must include at least the mass concentration and appropriate 
compounds to characterise its chemical compos ition. At least the list of chemical species 
given below shall be included. 
SO 42- N a+NH 4+Ca2+elemental carbon (EC)
NO 3- K+ Cl-Mg2+organic carbon (OC)
C. S ITING  
Measurements should be taken in particular in rural background areas in accordance with 
parts A, B, and C of Annex III. 
 
EN 41   EN ANNEX V  
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING MINI MUM NUMBERS OF SAMPLING 
POINTS FOR FIXED MEASUREMENT OF CONCENTRATIONS OF SULPHUR 
DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN, 
PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 10, PM 2,5), LEAD, CARBON MONOXIDE AND 
BENZENE IN AMBIENT AIR 
A. M INIMUM NUMBER OF SAMPLING POINTS FOR FIXED MEASUREMENT TO ASSESS 
COMPLIANCE WITH LIMIT VALUES OR CONCENTRATION CAPS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND ALERT THRESHOLDS IN ZONES AND AGGLOMERATIONS WHERE FIXED MEASUREMENT IS THE SOLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION
. 
(a) Diffuse sources 
Population of agglomeration  
or zone 
(thousands) 
 If concentrations exceed  
the upper assessment threshold (1) If maximum concentrations are 
between the upper and lower 
assessment thresholds 
0-249 1 1 
250-499 2 1 
500-749 2 1 
750-999 3 1 
1 000-1 499 4 2 
1 500-1 999 5 2 
2 000-2 749 6 3 
2 750-3 749 7 3 
3 750-4 749 8 4 
4 750-5 999 9 4 
≥ 6 000 10 5 
(1) For nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and benzene: to include at least one urban 
background monitoring station and one traffic-orientated station provided this does not increase the 
number of sampling points. The total number of urban-background stations and the total number of traffic oriented stations in a Member State sh all not differ by more than a factor of 2. 
 
EN 42   EN (b) Point sources 
For the assessment of pollution in the vicinity of point sources, the number of sampling points 
for fixed measurement shall be calculated ta king into account emission densities, the likely 
distribution patterns of ambient-air polluti on and the potential exposure of the population. 
B. M INIMUM NUMBER OF SAMPLING POINTS FOR FIXED MEASUREMENT TO ASSESS 
COMPLIANCE WITH THE PM 2,5 EXPOSURE REDUCTION TARGET FOR THE 
PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH  
One sampling point per million inhabitants applied to agglomerations and additional 
conurbations in excess of 100 000 inhabitants shall be operated for this purpose. 
Those sampling points may coincide w ith sampling points under Section A. 
C. M INIMUM NUMBER OF SAMPLING POINTS  FOR FIXED MEASUREMENTS TO ASSESS 
COMPLIANCE WITH CRITICAL LEVELS FO R THE PROTECTION OF VEGETATION IN 
ZONES OTHER THAN AGGLOMERATIONS  
If maximum concentrations exceed the 
upper assessment threshold If maximum concentrations are between upper 
and lower assessment threshold 
1 station every 20 000 km2 1 station every 40 000 km2 
In island zones the number  of sampling points for fixed measurement should be 
calculated taking into account the likely di stribution patterns of ambient-air pollution 
and the potential exposure of vegetation. 
 
EN 43   EN ANNEX VI  
REFERENCE METHODS FOR ASSESSMENT  OF CONCENTRATIONS OF SULPHUR 
DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXID ES OF NITROGEN, PARTICULATE 
MATTER (PM 10 AND PM 2,5), LEAD, CARBON MONOXIDE, BENZENE AND OZONE 
A. R EFERENCE MEASUREMENT METHODS  
1. Reference method for the meas urement of sulphur dioxide 
The reference method for the measurement of  sulphur dioxide is that described in 
EN 14212:2005 ‘Ambient air quality – Standard method for the measurement of sulphur dioxide by ultr aviolet fluorescence’. 
2. Reference method for the measuremen t of nitrogen dioxide and oxides of 
nitrogen 
The reference method for the measuremen t of nitrogen dioxide and oxides of 
nitrogen is that describe d in EN 14211:2005 ‘Ambient air quality – Standard method 
for the measurement of the concentration of nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen monoxide 
by chemiluminescence’. 
3. Reference method for the sampli ng and measurement of lead 
The reference method for the sampling of lead  is that described in Section A(4) of 
this Annex. The reference method for the meas urement of lead is that described in 
EN 14902:2005 ‘Reference method for determin ation of Pb/Cd/As/Ni in ambient 
air’. 
4. Reference method for the samp ling and measurement of PM
10 
The reference method for the sampling and measurement of PM 10 is that described in 
EN 12341:1999 ‘Air Quality – Determination of the PM 10 fraction of suspended 
particulate matter – Reference method a nd field test procedure to demonstrate 
reference equivalence of  measurement methods’. 
5. Reference method for the samp ling and measurement of PM 2,5 
The reference method for the sa mpling and measurement of PM 2,5 is that described 
EN 14907:2005 ‘Standard gravimetric measur ement method for the determination of 
the PM 2,5 mass fraction of suspended par ticulate matter in Ambient air’. 
6. Reference method for the sampli ng and measurement of benzene 
The reference method for the measuremen t of benzene is that described in 
14662:2005, parts 1, 2 and 3 ‘Ambient air quality - Reference method for measurement of benzene concentrations’. 
 
EN 44   EN 7. Reference method for the meas urement of carbon monoxide 
The reference method for the measurement of carbon monoxide is that described in 
EN 14626:2005 ‘Ambient air quality – Standa rd method for the measurement of the 
concentration of carbon monoxide by nondi spersive infrared spectroscopy’. 
8. Reference method for measurement of ozone 
The reference method  for the measurement of ozone is that described in 
EN 14625:2005 ‘Ambient air quality – Standa rd method for the measurement of the 
concentration of ozone by ultraviolet photometry’. 
B. D EMONSTRATION OF EQUIVALENCE  
1. A Member State may use any other method which it can demons trate gives results 
equivalent to any of the met hods referred to in Section A or , in the case of particulate 
matter, any other method which the Memb er State concerned can demonstrate 
displays a consistent  relationship to the reference method. In th at event the results 
achieved by that method must be  corrected to produce results equivalent to those that 
would have been achieved by using the reference method. 
2. The Commission may require the Member Stat es to prepare and submit a report on 
the demonstration of equivalence in accordance with paragraph 1. 
3. When assessing the acceptability of th e report mentioned in paragraph 2, the 
Commission will make reference to its guida nce on the demonstration of equivalence 
(to be published). Where Member States have been using interim factors to 
approximate equivalence th en these shall be confir med and/or amended with 
reference to the Commission’s guidance. 
4. Member States should ensure that when ever appropriate, the correction is also 
applied retroactively to past measuremen t data in order to achieve better data 
comparability. 
C. S TANDARDISATION  
For gaseous pollutants the volume must be standardised at a temperature of 293 K 
and an atmospheric pressure of 101,3 kPa. Fo r particulate matter and substances to be 
analysed in particulate matter (e.g. lead ) the sampling volume  refers to ambient 
conditions. 
 
EN 45   EN ANNEX VII  
TARGET VALUES AND LO NG-TERM OBJECTIVES 
A. O ZONE TARGET VALUES AND LONG TERM OBJECTIVES  
1. Definitions and criteria 
(a) Definitions AOT40 (expressed in (µg/m³)•hours) means th e sum of the difference between hourly 
concentrations greater than 80 µg/m³ (= 40 part s per billion) and 80 µg/m³ over a given period 
using only the 1-hour values measured between  8:00 and 20:00 Central European Time each 
day
1 . 
(b) Criteria 
The following criteria shall be used for ch ecking validity when aggregating data and 
calculating statistical parameters: 
Parameter Required proportion of valid data 
1 hour values 75 % (i.e. 45 minutes) 
8 hours values 75 % of values (i.e. 6 hours )
Maximum daily 8 hours mean 
from hourly running 8 hours 75 % of the hourly running 8 hours averages (i.e. 18 8-hourly averages per day)
AOT40 90 % of the 1 hour values over the time period defined for calculating the 
AOT40 value (a) 
Annual mean 90 % of the 1 hour values over summer (April to September) and 75 % over 
winter (January to March, October to December) seasons separately 
Number of exceedances and maximum values per month 90 % of the daily maximum 8 hours mean values (27 available daily values per 
month) 
90 % of the 1 hour values between 8:00 and 20:00 Central European Time 
Number of exceedances and 
maximum values per year five out of six months over the summer season (April to September) 
(a) In cases where all possible measur ed data are not available, the fo llowing factor shall be used to 
calculate AOT40 values: 
AOT40 estimate = AOT40 measured x total possible number of hours* 
number of measured hourly values 
* being the number of hours within the time period of AOT40 definition, (i.e. 08:00 to 20:00 h CET 
from 1 May to 31 July each year, for vegetation pr otection and from 1 April to 30 September each 
year for forest protection). 
                                                 
1 Or the appropriate time fo r ultra-peripheral regions. 
 
EN 46   EN . 
.2. Target values 
Objective Averaging period Ta rget value Date by which 
target value 
should be met 
Protection of human health Maximum daily 
8-hour mean (a) 120 µg/m3 not to be exceeded on 
more than 25 days per calendar year averaged over three years 
(b) 2010 
Protection of vegetation May to July AOT40 (calculated from 1 h values) 
18 000 µg/m3•h averaged over five 
years (b) 2010 
(a) The maximum daily 8-hour mean concentration shall be selected by examining 8-hour running 
averages, calculated from hourly data and update d each hour. Each 8-hour average so calculated 
shall be assigned to the day on which it ends. i.e. the first calculation period for any one day will be the period from 17:00 on the previous day to 01:00 on that day; the last calculation period for 
any one day will be the period from 16:00 to 24:00 on the day. 
(b) If the three or five year averages cannot be dete rmined on the basis of a full and consecutive set of 
annual data, the minimum annual data required for checking compliance with the target values w ill be 
as follows: 
– for the target value for the protection of  human health: valid data for one year; 
– for the target value for the protection of vegetation: valid data for three years. 
3. Long-term objectives 
Objective Averaging period Long -term objective Date by which 
the long-term 
objective 
should be met 
Protection of human health Maximum daily 8-hour 
mean within a calendar 
year 120 µg/m3 - 
Protection of vegetation May to July AOT40,  
(calculated from 1 h values) 
6 000 µg/m3•h - 
 
EN 47   EN ANNEX VIII  
CRITERIA FOR CLASSIFYING AND LOCA TING SAMPLING POINTS FOR 
ASSESSMENTS OF OZONE CONCENTRATIONS 
The following apply to fixed measurements: 
A. M ACROSCALE SITING  
Type of 
station Objectives of measurement Representativeness (a)Macroscale siting criteria 
Urban Protection of human health: 
to assess the exposure of the urban population to ozone, 
i.e. where population density 
and ozone concentration are 
relatively high and 
representative of the exposure of the general population A few km
2 Away from the influence of local emissions 
such as traffic, petrol stations, etc.; Vented locations where well mixed levels 
can be measured; Locations such as 
residential and commercial areas of cities, 
parks (away from the trees), big streets or 
squares with very little or no traffic, open areas characteristic of educational, sports or 
recreation facilities 
Suburban Protection of human health 
and vegetation: to assess the exposure of the 
population and vegetation 
located in the outskirts of the 
agglomeration, where the 
highest ozone levels, to which the population and 
vegetation is likely to be 
directly or indirectly exposed, occur Some tens of km
2 At a certain distance from the area of 
maximum emissions, downwind following the main wind direction/directions during 
conditions favourable to ozone formation; 
Where population, sensitive crops or natural 
ecosystems located in the outer fringe of an 
agglomeration are exposed to high ozone levels; 
Where appropriate, some  suburban stations 
also upwind of the area of maximum emissions, in order to determine the regional 
background levels of ozone 
Rural Protection of human health 
and vegetation: to assess the exposure of 
population, crops and natural 
ecosystems to sub-regional 
scale ozone concentrations Sub-regional levels 
(a few km
2) Stations can be located in small settlements 
and/or areas with natural ecosystems, forests or crops; 
Representative for ozone away from the 
influence of immediate local emissions such 
as industrial installations and roads; 
At open area sites, but not on summits of higher mountains 
Rural 
background Protection of vegetation and 
human health: 
to assess the exposure of crops and natural 
ecosystems to regional-scale 
ozone concentrations as well 
as exposure of the populationRegional/national/ 
continental levels 
(1 000 to 10 000 km
2)Station located in areas with lower 
population density, e.g. with natural 
ecosystems, forests, far removed from urban and industrial areas and away from local 
emissions; 
Avoid locations which are subject to locally 
enhanced formation of ground-near 
inversion conditions, also summits of higher mountains; 
Coastal sites with pronounced diurnal wind 
cycles of local character are not recommended. 
(a) Sampling points should, where possible, be representative of similar locations not in their immediate vicinity.
 
EN 48   EN For rural and rural background sta tions the location shall, where appropriate, be coordinated 
with the monitoring requirements of Comm ission Regulation (EC) No 1091/94 of 29 April 
1994 laying down certain detaile d rules for the implementati on of Council Regulation (EEC) 
No 3528/86 on the protection of the Community 's forests against atmospheric pollution1. 
B. M ICROSCALE SITING  
In so far as is practicable the procedure on mi croscale siting in Section B of Annex III shall be 
followed, ensuring also that the inlet probe is  positioned well away from such sources as 
furnaces and incineration flues and more than 10 m from the nearest road, with distance 
increasing as a function of traffic intensity. 
C. D OCUMENTATION AND REVIEW OF SITE SELECTION  
The procedures in Section C of Annex III sh all be followed, applying proper screening and 
interpretation of the monitoring data in the context of the meteorological and photochemical processes affecting the ozone concentrations measured at the respective sites. 
                                                
 
1 OJ L 125, 18.5.1994, p. 1. 
 
EN 49   EN ANNEX IX  
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING THE MINIMU M NUMBER OF SAMPLING POINTS 
FOR FIXED MEASUREMENT OF CONCENTRATIONS OF OZONE 
A. M INIMUM NUMBER OF SAMPLING POINTS FOR FIXED CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENTS 
TO ASSESS COMPLIANCE WITH TARGET VALUES , LONG -TERM OBJECTIVES AND 
INFORMATION AND ALERT THRESHOLDS WHERE SUCH MEASUREMENTS ARE THE SOLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION
 
Population 
(× 1 000) Agglomerations 
(urban and suburban) (a) Other zones 
(suburban and rural) (a) Rural background 
< 250  1 
< 500 1 2 
< 1 000 2 2 
< 1 500 3 3 
< 2 000 3 4 
< 2 750 4 5 
< 3 750 5 6 
> 3 750 1 additional station per 
2 million inhabitants 1 additional station per 
2 million inhabitants 1 station/50 000 km2 as an average 
density over all zones per country(b) 
 
(a) At least 1 station in suburban areas, where the highest exposure of the population is likely to occur. In 
agglomerations at least 50% of the stations shall be located in suburban areas.
(b) 1 station per 25 000 km2 for complex terrain is recommended. 
B. M INIMUM NUMBER OF SAMPLING POINTS  FOR FIXED MEASUREMENTS FOR ZONES 
AND AGGLOMERATIONS ATTAINING THE LONG -TERM OBJECTIVES  
The number of sampling points for ozone sha ll, in combination with other means of 
supplementary assessment such as air qual ity modelling and colocat ed nitrogen dioxide 
measurements, be sufficient to examine the trend of ozone pollution and check compliance with the long-term objectives. The number of st ations located in agglomerations and other 
zones may be reduced to one-third of the numbe r specified in Section A. Where information 
from fixed measurement stations  is the sole source of inform ation, at least one monitoring 
station shall be kept. If, in zone s where there is supplementary asse ssment, the result of this is 
that a zone has no remaining station, coordinatio n with the number of stations in neighbouring 
zones shall ensure adequate as sessment of ozone concentrati ons against long-term objectives. 
The number of rural background stat ions shall be 1 per 100 000 km
2. 
 
EN 50   EN ANNEX X  
MEASUREMENTS OF OZONE PRECURSOR SUBSTANCES 
A. O BJECTIVES  
The main objectives of such m easurements are to analyse any trend in ozone precursors, to 
check the efficiency of emission reduction stra tegies, to check the consistency of emission 
inventories and to help attribute emission sources to observed pollution concentrations. 
An additional aim is to support the understanding of ozone formation and precursor dispersion 
processes, as well as the app lication of photochemical models. 
B. S UBSTANCES  
Measurement of ozone precursor  substances shall include at  least nitrogen oxides (NO and 
NO 2), and the following VOC: 
 1-Butene Iso prene Eth yl benzene 
Ethane Trans-2-Butene n-Hexane m+ p-Xylene 
Ethylene cis-2-Butene i-Hexane o-X ylene
Acetylene 1,3-Butadiene n-Heptane 1,2,4-Trimeth ylebenzene 
Propane n-Pentane n-Octane 1,2,3- Trimeth ylebenzene 
Propene i-Pentane i-Octane 1,3,5- Trimeth ylebenzene 
n-Butane 1-Pentene Benzene Formaldeh yde 
i-Butane 2-Pentene Toluene Total no n-methane h ydrocarbons
C. S ITING  
Measurements shall be taken in particular in urban and suburban areas at any monitoring site 
set up in accordance with the re quirements of this Directive a nd considered appropriate with 
regard to the monitoring objectiv es referred to in Section A. 
 
EN 51   EN ANNEX XI  
LIMIT VALUES FOR THE PRO TECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH 
Averaging 
Period Limit value Margin of to lerance Date by which 
limit value is 
to be met 
Sulphur dioxide  
1 hour 350 µg/m3, not to be exceeded more 
than 24 times a calendar year 150 µg/ m3 (43%)  
1 day 125 µg/m3, not to be exceeded 
more than 3 times a calendar year None  
Nitrogen dioxide  
1 hour 200 µg/m3, not to be exceeded 
more than 18 times a calendar year 50% on 19 July 1999, decreasing on 
1 January 2001 and every 12 months thereafter by equal annual percentages 
to reach 0% by 1 January 2010 1 January 2010 
Calendar year 40 µg/m3 50% on 19 July 1999, decreasing on 
1 January 2001 and every 12 months 
thereafter by equal annual 
percentages to reach 0% by 1 January 2010 1 January 2010 
Carbon monoxide 
max. daily 8-
hour mean(1) 10 mg/m3 60 %  
Benzene  
Calendar year 5 µg/m3 5 µg/m3 (100%) on 13 December 
2000, decreasing on 1 January 2006 
and every 12 months thereafter by 
1 µg/m3 to reach 0% by 1 January 
2010 1 January 2010 
Lead 
Calendar year 0,5 µg/m3 100 %  
 
EN 52   EN PM 10 
1 day 50 µg/ m3, not to be exceeded more 
than 35times a calendar year 50 %  
Calendar year 40 µg/m3 20 %  
(1) The maximum daily 8-hour mean concentration will be selected by examining 8-hour running 
averages, calculated from hourly data and updated each hour. Each 8-hour av erage so calculated will 
be assigned to the day on which it ends i.e. the first calculation period for any one day will be the period from 17:00 on the previous day to 01:00 on that day; the last calculation period for any one day 
will be the period from 16:00 to 24:00 on that day. 
 
EN 53   EN ANNEX XII  
INFORMATION AND ALERT THRESHOLDS 
A. A LERT THRESHOLDS FOR POLLUTANTS OTHER THAN OZONE  
To be measured over three consecutive hours at  locations representative of air quality 
over at least 100 km2 or an entire zone or agglomeration, whichever is the 
smaller.  
Pollutant Alert threshold 
Sulphur dioxide 500 µg/m3 
Nitrogen dioxide 400 µg/m3 
B. I NFORMATION AND ALERT THRESHOLDS FOR OZONE  
Purpose Averaging period Threshold 
Information 1 hour 180 µg/m3 
Alert 1 hour (a) 240 µg/m3 
(a) For the implementation of Article  18, the exceedance of the threshold is to be measured or 
predicted for three consecutive hours. 
 
EN 54   EN ANNEX XIII  
CRITICAL LEVELS FOR THE PRO TECTION OF VEGETATION 
Averaging period Critical Level Margin of tolerance Date by which Critical 
Level is to be met 
Sulphur dioxide 
Calendar year and winter 
(1 October to 31 March) 20 µg/ m3 None  
Oxides of nitrogen 
Calendar year 30 µg/m3 NO x None  
 
EN 55   EN ANNEX XIV  
EXPOSURE REDUCTION TARGET AND CONCENTRATION CAP FOR PM 2,5 
A. A VERAGE EXPOSURE INDICATOR  
The Average Exposure Indi cator expressed in µg/m3 (AEI) shall be based upon 
measurements in urban background locations in zones and agglomerations throughout the territory of a Member State. It should be assessed as a 3-calendar year 
running annual mean concentration averaged  over all sampling points established 
pursuant to Articles 6 and 7. The AEI for th e reference year 2010 shall be the mean 
concentration of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. Similarly, the AEI for the year 2020 
shall be the 3-year running mean concentr ation averaged over all sampling points for 
the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. 
B. E
XPOSURE REDUCTION TARGET  
Exposure Reduction Target rel ative to the AEI in 2010 Date by which the exposure 
reduction target should be met 
20 percent 2020 
Where the average exposure indicator expressed in µg/m3 in the reference year is 
7 µg/m3 or less the exposure reduction target shall be zero 
C. C ONCENTRATION CAP  
Averaging 
Period Concentration 
cap Margin of tolerance (1) Date by which 
concentration 
cap is to be met 
Calendar 
year 25 µg/m3 20% on the entry into force of this 
Directive, decreasing on the next 1 January 
following and every 12 months thereafter 
by equal annual percentages to reach 0 % by 1 January 2010 1 January 2010 
(1) The maximum margin of to lerance applies also in acco rdance with Article 15(4) 
 
EN 56   EN ANNEX XV  
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN  THE LOCAL, REGIONAL OR 
NATIONAL PLANS OR PROGRAMMES FOR IMPROVEMENT IN 
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY 
A. I NFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED UNDER ARTICLE 21 (PLANS OR PROGRAMMES ) 
1. Localisation of excess pollution 
(a) region; (b) city (map); (c) measuring station (map, geographical coordinates). 
2. General information: 
(a) type of zone (city, i ndustrial or ru ral area); 
(b) estimate of the polluted area (km2) and of the population exposed to the 
pollution;  
(c) useful climatic data;  (d) relevant data on topography;  (e) sufficient information on the type of ta rgets requiring protection in the zone.  
3. Responsible authorities 
Names and addresses of persons re sponsible for the development and 
implementation of improvement plans. 
4. Nature and assessment of pollution: 
(a) concentrations observed over previous years (before the implementation of the 
improvement measures); 
(b) concentrations measured si nce the beginning of the project; 
(c) techniques used for the assessment.  
5. Origin of pollution 
(a) list of the main emission sour ces responsible for pollution (map); 
(b) total quantity of emissions from  these sources (tonnes/year);  
(c) information on pollution imported from other regions.  
 
EN 57   EN 6. Analysis of the situation 
(a) details of those factors responsible fo r the exceedence (e.g. transport, including 
cross-border transport, formation of s econdary pollutants in the atmosphere); 
(b) details of possible measures fo r the improvement of air quality.  
7. Details of those measures or projects for improvement which existed prior to the 
entry into force of this Directive, i.e: 
(a) local, regional, national, international measures; (b) observed effects of these measures.  
8. Details of those measures or projects adopted with a view to reducing pollution 
following the entry into force of this Directive: 
(a) listing and description of all the measures set out in the project;  
(b) timetable for implementation; (c) estimate of the improvement of air qua lity planned and of  the expected time 
required to attain these objectives.  
9. Details of the measures or projects pla nned or being researched for the long term. 
10. List of the publications, documents, work, etc., used to supplement information 
required under this Annex.  
B. I
NFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED UNDER ARTICLE 20(1)(b)   
(AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT PROGRAMME ) 
1. All information as laid down in Section A of this Annex. 
2. Information concerning the status of imp lementation of the following Directives: 
(1) Council Directive 70/220/EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approximation of the 
laws of the Member States on measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles
1; 
(2) Council Directive 88/77/EEC of 3 December 1987 on the approximation of the 
laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the 
emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression ignition 
engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from 
positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles
2; 
                                                 
1 OJ L 76, 6.4.1970, p. 1. 
2 OJ L 36, 9.2.1988, p. 33. 
 
EN 58   EN (3) Directive 94/63/EC of the European  Parliament and of the Council of 
20 December 1994 on the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from 
terminals to service stations
3; 
(4) Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated 
pollution prevention and control4; 
(5) Directive 97/68/EC of the European  Parliament and of the Council of 
16 December 1997 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States 
relating to measures against the emission  of gaseous and particulate pollutants 
from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery as amended
5; 
(6) Directive 98/70/EC of the European  Parliament and of the Council of 
13 October 1998 relating to the quality of  petrol and diesel fuels and amending 
Council Directive 93/12/EEC6; 
(7) Council Directive 1999/13/EC of 11 Ma rch 1999 on the limita tion of emissions 
of volatile organic compounds  due to the use of orga nic solvents in certain 
activities and installations7; 
(8) Council Directive 1999/32/EC of 26 Apr il 1999 relating to a reduction in the 
sulphur content of certain liquid fu els and amending Directive 93/12/EEC8; 
(9) Directive 2000/76/EC of the European  Parliament and of the Council of 
4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste9; 
(10) Directive 2001/80/EC of  the European Parliament and of the Council of 
23 October 2001 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutan ts into the air 
from large combustion plants; 
(11) Directive 2001/81/EC of  the European Parliament and of the Council of 
23 October 2001 on national emission ce ilings for certain atmospheric 
pollutants; 
(12) Directive 2004/42/EC of  the European Parliament and of the Council of 
21 April 2004 on the limitation of emissi ons of volatile or ganic compounds due 
to the use of organic solvents in cer tain paints and varnishes and vehicle 
refinishing products and am ending Directive 1999/13/EC10; 
                                                 
3 OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 24 
4 OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 22. 
5 OJ L 59, 27.2.1998, p. 1. 
6 OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 58. 
7 OJ L 85, 29.3.1999, p. 1. 
8 OJ L 121, 11.5.1999, p. 13. 
9 OJ L 332 , 28.12.2000, p. 91. 
10 OJ L 143, 30.4.2004, p. 87. 
 
EN 59   EN (13) Directive […] of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy 
end-use efficiency and energy services11. 
(14) Directive […] of the European Parliament and of the Council amending 
Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels12; 
3. Information on all air pollution abatement me asures that have been considered for 
implementation in connection with the attainme nt of air quality objectives, including: 
at the level of agglomeration or zone: (a) reduction of emissions from stationary sources by ensuring that polluting small 
and medium sized stationary combustion sources (including for biomass) are 
fitted with emission control equipment or replaced; 
(b) reduction of emissions from vehicles through retrofitting with emission control 
equipment. The use of economic incentiv es to accelerate take-up should be 
considered; 
(c) procurement by public authorities, in line with the handbook on environmental 
public procurement
13, of road vehicles, fuels and combustion equipment to 
reduce emissions, including the purchase of: 
– new vehicles, including low emission vehicles, 
– cleaner vehicle transport services, 
– low emission stationary combustion sources, 
– low emission fuels for stationary and mobile sources; 
(d) measures to limit transport emissions  through traffic planning and management 
(including congestion pricing, differentia ted parking fees or other economic 
incentives; establishing “low emission zones”); 
(e) measures to encourage a shift of transport towards less polluting modes; 
(f) ensuring that low emission fuels are us ed in small, medium and large scale 
stationary sources a nd in mobile sources; 
                                                 
11 OJ L […], […], p. […]. 
12 OJ L […], […], p. […]. 
13 SEC(2004) 1050. 
 
EN 60   EN at regional or national level: 
(g) measures to reduce air pollution through the permit system under 
Directive 96/61/EC, the national plans under Directive 2001/80/EC, and 
through the use of economic instruments such as taxes, charges or emission 
trading. 
 
EN 61   EN ANNEX XVI  
PUBLIC INFORMATION 
1. Member States shall ensure that up-to-da te information on ambient concentrations of 
the pollutants covered by this Directive is  routinely made available to the public.  
2. Ambient concentrations provided shall be  presented as average values according to 
the appropriate averaging period as laid dow n in Annex VII and Annexes XI to XIV. 
The information shall at l east indicate any levels excee ding air quality objectives 
including limit values, concentration caps, ta rget values, alert thresholds, information 
thresholds or long term objectives of the re gulated pollutant. It shall also provide a 
short assessment in relation to the air quality objectives and appropriate information regarding effects on healt h, or, where appropriate, vegetation.  
3. Information on ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, 
particulate matter, ozone and carbon monoxide shall be updated on at least a daily 
basis, and, wherever practicable, information shall be updated on an hourly basis. Information on ambient concentrations of  lead and benzene, presented as an 
average value for the last 12 months, shall be updated on a three-monthly basis, and on a monthly basis, wherever practicable.  
4. Member States shall ensure that timel y information about actual or predicted 
exceedances of alert threshol ds, and any informat ion threshold is provided to the 
public. Details supplied shall include at least the following information: 
(a) information on observed exceedance(s): 
– location or area of the exceedance; 
– type of threshold exceeded (information or alert); 
– start time and duration of the exceedance; 
– highest 1-hour concentration and in addition highest 8-hour mean 
concentration in the case of ozone; 
(b) forecast for the following afternoon/day(s): 
– geographical area of expected exceed ances of information and/or alert 
threshold; 
– expected changes in pollution (improvement, stabilisation or 
deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes; 
(c) information on the type of population concerned, possible h ealth effects and 
recommended behaviour: 
– information on population groups at risk; 
– description of likely symptoms; 
 
EN 62   EN – recommended precautions to be taken by the population concerned; 
– where to find further information; 
(d) information on preventive action to reduce pollution and/or exposure to it: 
indication of main source sectors; recommendations fo r action to reduce 
emissions; 
(e) in the case of predicted exceedences, Member State shall take steps to ensure 
that such details are supplied to the extent practicable. 
 
EN 63   EN ANNEX XVII  
CORRELATION TABLE 
This Directive Directive 
96/62/EC Directive 
1999/30/EC Directive 
2000/69/EC Directive 
2002/3/EC 
Article 1 Article 1 Article 1 Article 1 Article 1 
Article 2(1) to (5) Article 2(1) to 
(5) - - - 
Article 2(6) and 
(7) - - - - 
Article 2(8) Article 2(8) Article 2(7) - - 
Article 2(9) Article 2(6) - - Article 2(9) 
Article 2(10) Article 2(7) Article 2(6) - Article 2(11) 
Article 2(11) - - - Article 2(12) 
Article 2(12) 
and (13)  - Article 2(13) 
and (14) Article 2(a) and 
(b) - 
Article 2(14) - - - Article 2(10) 
Article 2(15) 
and (16) Article 2(9) and 
(10) Article 2(8) and 
(9) - Article 2(7) and 
(8) 
Article 2(17) and (18) - Article 2(11) 
and (12) - - 
Article 2(19), 
(20) and (21) - - - - 
Article 2(22) - Article 2(10) - - 
Article 2(23) 
and (24) Article 6(5) - - - 
Article 2(25) - - - Article 2(13) 
Article 3, with 
the exception of paragraph (1)(f) Article 3 - - - 
Article 3(1)(f) - - - - 
 
EN 64   EN Article 4 Article 2(9) and 
(10), Article 6(1) - - - 
Article 5 - Article 7(1) Article 5(1)  - 
Article 6 (1) to 
(4) Article 6 (1) to 
(4) - - - 
Article 6 (5) - - - - 
Article 7 - Article 7 (2) and 
(3) with amendments - Article 5(2) 
and (3) with amendments  
Article 8 - Article 7(5) Article 5(5) - 
Article 9  - - - Article 9(1) 1st 
and 2nd 
subparagraphs 
Article 10 - - - Article 9(1) to 
(3) with amendments 
Article 11(1) - - - Article 9(4) 
Article 11(2) - - - - 
Article 12 Article 9 - - - 
Article 13(1) - Articles 3(1), 
4(1), 5(1) and 6  Articles 3(1) and 
4 - 
Article 13(2) - Articles 3(2) and 
4(2) - - 
Article 13(3) - Article 5(5) - - 
Article 14 - Articles 3(1) and 
4(1) with amendments - - 
Article 15 - - - - 
Article 16(1) - - - Articles 3(1) and 
4(1) 
Article 16(2) - - - Article 3(2) and 
(3) 
 
EN 65   EN Article 16(3) - - - Article 4(2) 
Article 17 - - - Article 5 
Article 18 Article 10 with 
amendments Article 8(3) - Article 6 with 
amendments 
Article 19 - Articles 3(4) and 
5(4) with amendments - - 
Article 20 - - - - 
Article 21 Article 8(1) to 
(4) with amendments - - - 
Article 22 Article 7(3) with 
amendments - - Article 7 with 
amendments 
Article 23 Article 8(5) with 
amendments - - Article 8 with 
amendments 
Article 24 - Article 8 with 
amendments Article 7 with 
amendments Article 6 with 
amendments 
Article 25 Article 11 with 
amendments Article 5(2) 
second subparagraph  - Article 10 with 
amendments 
Article 26(1) Article 12(1) 
with amendments - - - 
Article 26(2) Article 11 with 
amendments - - - 
Article 26(3) - - - - 
Article 26(4) - Annex IX with 
amendments - - 
Article 27 Article 12(2) - - - 
Article 28 - Article 11 Article 9 Article 14 
Article 29 - - - - 
Article 30 - - - - 
Article 31 Article 13 Article 12 Article 10 Article 15 
 
EN 66   EN Article 32 Article 14 Article 13 Article 11 Article 17 
Article 33 Article 15 Article 14 Article 12 Article 18 
Annex I - Annex VIII with 
amendments Annex VI Annex VII 
Annex II - Annex V with 
amendments Annex III  
Annex III - Annex VI Annex IV - 
Annex IV - - - - 
Annex V - Annex VII with 
amendments Annex V - 
Annex VI - Annex IX with 
amendments Annex VII Annex VIII 
Annex VII - - - Annex I, Annex 
III section II 
Annex VIII - - - Annex IV 
Annex IX - - - Annex V 
Annex X - - - Annex VI 
Annex XI - Annex I, section 
I, Annex II, section I and Annex III (with amendments); Annex IV (unchanged) Annex I, Annex 
II - 
Annex XII - Annex I, section 
II, Annex II, section II,  - Annex II, 
section I 
Annex XIII - Annex I, section 
I, Annex II, section I - - 
Annex XIV - - - - 
Annex XV 
Section A Annex IV - - - 
 
EN 67   EN Annex XV 
Section B - - - - 
Annex XVI - Article 8 Article 7 Article 6 with 
amendments