WRITTEN QUESTION P-0595/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 February 2002)

Subject: Implementation of Regulation 2037/2000/EC: Substances depleting the ozone layer

Can the Commission provide a status report, listing EU Member State, by Member State on the implementation of Regulation 2037/2000/EC(1) with regard to the extraction and disposal of ozone-depleting substances in refrigerating equipment, in particular those that have a comprehensive system to extract CFC refrigerants from liquid coolants and which have set up systems to extract it from foam?

Which Member States at the end of February 2002 were still permitting used refrigerators to go to landfill without any extraction taking place?

As it is clear that some Member States are still failing to take even the most basic measures to extract CFCs, is the Commission satisfied with this and what action does it propose to take?

(1) OJ L 244, 24.9.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2002)

The Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to the reply given to his written question E-0255/02(1). On the basis of information currently available to the Commission this reply gives details on the status in individual Member State on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer with regard to the extraction and disposal of ozone-depleting substances in refrigerating equipment.

Under Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000, Member States have the responsibility to ensure the recovery of controlled substances from used domestic refrigerators and freezers for destruction by technologies approved by the Parties or by any other environmentally acceptable destruction technology. The Commission does not have information on which Member States at the end of February 2002 were still permitting used refrigerators to go to landfill without any extraction taking place. However, under Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 Member States should not allow controlled substances contained in used refrigerators to go to landfill. The Commission's general understanding is that most Member States are recovering controlled substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from the cooling circuits in commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment where there are well-established technologies. Information on recovery practices of controlled substances from the cooling systems in domestic refrigerators and freezers is more variable but it appears that a significant number of Member States are engaged in recovery from such equipment.

As already indicated the technology for the recovery of controlled substances from the insulating foam in refrigeration equipment while practicable is more recent. Six Member States Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Finland and Sweden informed the Commission that they use commercial facilities for recovering controlled substances from the insulating foam in domestic refrigerators and freezers. Four other Member States Belgium, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands have indicated that they have some facilities for recovering controlled substances from domestic refrigerators and freezers, but they still have to provide the details. The United Kingdom is storing used domestic refrigerators and freezers until commercial facilities for recovery and destruction of controlled substances from the insulating foam are in place. Other Member States still have to provide the information following several requests from the Commission.

A clearer picture will emerge when all Member States have provided the information required under Article 16(6). This requires Member States to report to the Commission on the systems in place for the recovery and destruction of controlled substances by 31 December 2001. To date only two Member States have reported. The Commission is currently in the process of seeking to establish

a comprehensive overview, based on information provided by the Member States, of the situation in the Community and in each Member State. Evaluation of this information will put the Commission in a position to take the necessary steps to ensure that all Member States comply fully with Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000.

(1) OJ C 172 E, 18.7.2002, p. 168.