WRITTEN QUESTION E-3726/00

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in the UK from unnatural sources

Road transport is responsible for the largest amount of VOC emitted in the UK from unnatural sources.

The stage I Directive (94/63/EC)(1) has been adopted to control VOC emissions from the storage and distribution of petrol, from terminals to service stations.

As emissions released when a vehicle is refuelled account for even higher levels of VOCs, when will Stage II recovery controls be introduced?

Furthermore, when will a national standard of air quality to include VOCs be adopted?

(1) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 24.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2001)

There are many different sources of emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). In the United Kingdom in 1998 approximately 20 % of total emissions of NMVOCs came from road vehicle exhausts and a further 7 % from the evaporative losses from road vehicles. In addition, petrol distribution accounted for approximately 6 % of total British NMVOC emissions. This is to be compared to the emissions associated with solvent use (27 %), production processes (15 %), offshore oil & gas production (9 %) and natural sources (9 %).

Regarding air quality standards for NMVOCs the Commission has already brought forward a legislative proposal for benzene in air which is currently being discussed in Parliament and Council. Legislation for the other substances contained in Annex I of the Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996, on ambient air quality assessment and management(1) has already been adopted or will be proposed in the near future.

Parliament and Council Directive 94/63/EC 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, (State I), was adopted to limit the emissions of NMVOCs during the storage and distribution of petrol. In addition, there have been several Directives progressively limiting the exhaust emissions of NMVOCs from road vehicles and these are expected to reduce emissions substantially over the next ten years. Furthermore, Directive 98/70/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC(2) established the environmental specifications for petrol including the vapour pressure and this is expected to reduce evaporative emissions during re-fuelling.

The Commission has brought forward a proposal for a directive of the Parliament and of the Council on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants(3) as part of the Community's strategy to combat ground level ozone. This sets emissions ceilings for NMVOCs and nitrogen oxides amongst others. This directive, when adopted, will leave Members States the flexibility to meet their particular emission ceiling in the most cost-effective way subject to there being complementary Community measures where these are appropriate.

The Commission has, therefore, no immediate plans to bring forward a proposal to establish Stage II vapour emission controls on the re-fuelling of petrol cars. However, possible additional measures to reduce emissions of NMVOCs will be kept under review in the context of the continued development of Community policies on air pollution.

(1) OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.

(2) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998.

(3) OJ C 56 E, 29.2.2000.