Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Date: 2003-06-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European convention, air quality, environmental protection, organic pollution, public health, transfrontier pollution

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 12.06.2003
COM(2003) 332 final

2003/0117 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the 1998 Protocol
to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent
Organic Pollutants

(presented by the Commission)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Community has been a Party to the Convention on Long Range Transboundary
Air  Pollution  (LRTAP)  since  1982.  This  Convention  was  negotiated  and  adopted
under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The Executive Body of the LRTAP Convention decided in 1996 to open negotiations
on  a  Protocol  on  persistent  organic  pollutants.  The  negotiations  were  concluded  in
February  1998.  The  Commission  participated  on  behalf  of  the  Community  and  in
accordance with the negotiating directives given by the Council on 7 October 1997.

The Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants was adopted and opened for signature
at a special session of the  Executive  Body  which  was  held  in  conjunction  with  the
Ministerial  Conference  “Environment  for  Europe” 
in  Aarhus,  Denmark  on
23-25 June 1998. The Community and all the Member States signed the Protocol on
24 June 1998.

The aim of the Protocol is to control, reduce or eliminate discharges, emissions and
losses of persistent organic pollutants that cause significant adverse effects on human
health or the environment as a result of their long-range transboundary atmospheric
transport. The Protocol stipulates the elimination or reduction of production and use
of  thirteen  substances  regarded  as  persistent  organic  pollutants.  In  addition,  Parties
have  to  take  effective  measures  to  reduce  or  stabilise  total  annual  emissions  of
certain substances.

To ensure that proposals for listing additional substances in the Protocol are justified
and  have  sufficient  support  in  the  Community,  only  joint  proposals  by  the
Community and the Member States should be submitted to the Secretariat. Therefore,
appropriate  provisions  on  submitting  new  proposals  should  be  included  in  the
Decision.

When Annexes  I,  II  or  III  of the Protocol  are  amended,  the Commission should  be
authorised  to approve,  on  behalf  of  the  Community,  the  amendments  provided  that
the Annexes to the Regulation (EC) [No …/200..] have been amended accordingly.

While  the  main  purpose  and  the  content  of  the  Protocol  concerns  environmental
protection,  the  provisions  concerning  prohibitions  and  restrictions  of  intentional
production  and  use  of  chemicals  are  relevant  to  the  functioning  of  the  internal
market.  Therefore,  it  is  appropriate  that  the  Decision  on  ratification  is  based  on
Articles 175(1) and 95(1), in conjunction with Article 300.

In parallel to this proposed Decision, the Commission has put forward a proposal for
a  Council  Decision  concerning  the  conclusion  of  the  Stockholm  Convention  on
Persistent  Organic  Pollutants,  which  was  signed  by  the  Community  in  May  2001,
and a Regulation by the European Parliament and the Council to implement certain
provisions  of  the  Protocol  and  the  Stockholm  Convention,  which  are  not  yet
implemented by the Community legislation.

It  is  therefore  possible  for  the  Community  to  approve  the  Protocol  on  Persistent  Organic
Pollutants.

2

2003/0117 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the 1998 Protocol
to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent
Organic Pollutants

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article
95(1)  and  Article  175(1),  in  conjunction  with  Article  300(2),  first  sentence  of  the  first
subparagraph and Article 300(3), first subparagraph thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee3,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions4,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The  promotion of measures at international level to  deal  with  regional  or  worldwide
environmental  problems  is  one  of  the  objectives  of  the  Community’s  policy  on  the
environment, in accordance with Article 174 of the Treaty.

The  Community  signed  in  Aarhus  on  24  June  1998  the  Protocol  to  the  1979
Convention  on  Long  Range  Transboundary  Air  Pollution  on  Persistent  Organic
Pollutants (hereafter called “the Protocol”).

The  Protocol  aims  at  controlling,  reducing  or  eliminating  discharges,  emissions  and
losses of persistent organic pollutants that cause significant adverse effects on human
health  or  the  environment  as  a  result  of  their  long-range  transboundary  atmospheric
transport.

The  Protocol  stipulates,  in  principle,  the  elimination  or  reduction  of  production  and
use of thirteen substances regarded as persistent organic pollutants. In addition, Parties
have to take effective measures to reduce or stabilise total annual emissions of certain
substances.

1

2

3

4

OJ C , , p. .
OJ C , , p. .
OJ C , , p. .
OJ C , , p. .

3

                                                
(5)

The Protocol is open  to ratification, acceptance,  approval  or  accession  by  States  and
by regional economic integration organisations Parties to the Convention.

(6) While  the  provisions  of  the  Protocol  concern  environmental  protection,  certain
provisions  on  the  control  of  intentional  production  and  use  of  chemicals,  are  also
relevant  to  the  functioning  of  the  internal  market.  Consequently,  it  is  appropriate  to
choose Articles 175(1) and 95(1) as the legal basis, in conjunction with Article 300.

(7)

(8)

(9)

The  Protocol  contributes  to  the  achievement  of  the  objectives  of  the  environmental
policy of the Community. It is therefore appropriate that the Community approves this
Protocol as soon as possible.

The Protocol foresees that Parties submit proposals to the  Secretariat of the  Protocol
for listing additional substances in Annexes I, II or III. As these proposals may affect
relevant  Community  legislation  and  as  it  is  necessary  to  ensure  that  proposals  are
justified  and  have  sufficient  support  in  the  Community,  only  joint  proposals  by  the
Community  and  the  Member  States  should  be  submitted  to  the  Secretariat.  When
preparing draft proposals, due account of the Decision 1998/2 of the Executive Body
for the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution should be taken.

To ensure effective approval of amendments to Annex I, II and III of the Protocol, the
Commission  should  be  authorised  to  approve,  on  behalf  of  the  Community,  the
amendments  provided  that  the  Annexes  to  the  Regulation  (EC)  No  …/200.  of  the
European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants and amending
Directives 79/117/EEC and 96/59/EC5 have been amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The  Protocol  to  the  1979  Convention  on  Long  Range  Transboundary  Air  Pollution  on
Persistent Organic Pollutants, hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”, is hereby approved on
behalf of the Community.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The  President  of  the  Council  is  hereby  authorised  to  designate  the  person  or  persons
empowered to deposit the instrument of approval on behalf of the European Community with
the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 16 of the Protocol.

Article 3

Proposals to amend Annexes I, II and III to the Protocol shall only be made, on behalf of the
European  Community  and  the  Member  States,  by  the  Commission  following  a  Council
Decision adopted by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission.

5

OJ C […], […]; p. […].

4

                                                
Article 4

The  Commission  is  hereby  authorised  to  approve,  on  behalf  of  the  Community,  the
amendments  to  Annexes  I,  II  and  III  to  the  Protocol,  provided  that  the  Annexes  to  the
Regulation (EC) No …/200.. have been amended accordingly.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

5

PROTOCOL TO THE 1979 CONVENTION ON LONG RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY
AIR POLLUTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS

The Parties,

Determined to implement the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution,

Recognizing  that  emissions  of  many  persistent  organic  pollutants  are  transported  across
international  boundaries  and  are  deposited  in  Europe,  North America  and  the  Arctic,  far  from
their site of origin, and that the atmosphere is the dominant medium of transport,

Aware  that  persistent  organic  pollutants  resist  degradation  under  natural  conditions  and  have
been associated with adverse effects on human health and the environment,

Concerned  that  persistent  organic  pollutants  can  biomagnify  in  upper  trophic  levels  to
concentrations which might affect the health of exposed wildlife and humans,

Acknowledging that the Arctic ecosystems and especially its indigenous people, who subsist on
Arctic fish  and  mammals,  are particularly  at  risk  because  of  the  biomagnification  of  persistent
organic pollutants,

Mindful that measures to control emissions of persistent organic pollutants would also contribute
to  the  protection  of  the  environment  and  human  health  in  areas  outside  the  United  Nations
Economic Commission for Europe's region, including the Arctic and international waters,

Resolved  to  take  measures  to  anticipate,  prevent  or  minimize  emissions  of  persistent  organic
pollutants,  taking  into  account  the  application  of  the  precautionary  approach,  as  set  forth  in
principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,

Reaffirming  that  States  have,  in  accordance  with  the  Charter  of  the  United  Nations  and  the
principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their
own  environmental  and  development  policies,  and  the  responsibility  to  ensure  that  activities
within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of
areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,

Noting  the  need  for  global  action  on  persistent  organic  pollutants  and  recalling  the  role
envisaged in chapter 9 of Agenda 21 for regional agreements to reduce global transboundary air
pollution and, in particular, for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to share its
regional experience with other regions of the world,

Recognizing  that  there  are  subregional,  regional  and  global  regimes  in  place,  including
international  instruments  governing  the  management  of  hazardous  wastes,  their  transboundary
movement  and  disposal,  in  particular  the  Basel  Convention  on  the  Control  of  Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal,

6

Considering  that  the  predominant  sources  of  air  pollution  contributing  to  the  accumulation  of
persistent organic pollutants are the use of certain pesticides, the manufacture and use of certain
chemicals,  and  the  unintentional  formation  of  certain  substances  in  waste  incineration,
combustion, metal production and mobile sources,

Aware that techniques and management practices are available to reduce emissions of persistent
organic pollutants into the air,

Conscious of the need for a cost-effective regional approach to combating air pollution,

Noting the important contribution of the private and non-governmental sectors to knowledge of
the  effects  associated  with  persistent  organic  pollutants,  available  alternatives  and  abatement
techniques,  and  their  role  in  assisting  in  the  reduction  of  emissions  of  persistent  organic
pollutants,

Bearing in mind that measures taken to reduce persistent organic pollutant emissions should not
constitute  a  means  of  arbitrary  or  unjustifiable  discrimination  or  a  disguised  restriction  on
international competition and trade,

Taking  into  consideration  existing  scientific  and  technical  data  on  emissions,  atmospheric
processes and effects on human health and the environment of persistent organic  pollutants, as
well  as  on  abatement  costs,  and  acknowledging  the  need  to  continue  scientific  and  technical
cooperation to further the understanding of these issues,

Recognizing the measures on persistent organic pollutants already taken by some of the Parties
on a national level and/or under other international conventions,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of the present Protocol,

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

“Convention”  means  the  Convention  on  Long-range  Transboundary  Air  Pollution,
adopted in Geneva on 13 November 1979;

“EMEP”  means  the  Cooperative  Programme  for  Monitoring  and  Evaluation  of  the
Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe;

“Executive  Body”  means  the  Executive  Body  for  the  Convention  constituted  under
article 10, paragraph 1, of the Convention;

“Commission” means the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe;

“Parties”  means,  unless  the  context  otherwise  requires,  the  Parties  to  the  present
Protocol;

7

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

“Geographical scope of EMEP” means the area defined in article 1, paragraph 4, of the
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution on Long-
term  Financing  of  the  Cooperative  Programme  for  Monitoring  and  Evaluation  of  the
Long-range  Transmission  of  Air  Pollutants  in  Europe  (EMEP),  adopted  in  Geneva  on
28 September 1984;

“Persistent  organic  pollutants”  (POPs)  are  organic  substances  that:  (i) possess  toxic
characteristics;  (ii)  are  persistent;  (iii)  bioaccumulate;  (iv)  are  prone  to  long-range
transboundary  atmospheric  transport  and  deposition;  and  (v)  are  likely  to  cause
significant adverse human health or environmental effects near to and distant from their
sources;

“Substance”  means  a  single  chemical species,  or  a  number  of  chemical  species  which
form  a  specific  group  by  virtue  of  (a)  having  similar  properties  and  being  emitted
together into the environment; or (b) forming a mixture normally marketed as a single
article;

“Emission”  means  the  release  of  a  substance  from  a  point  or  diffuse  source  into  the
atmosphere;

“Stationary  source”  means  any  fixed  building,  structure,  facility,  installation,  or
equipment that emits or may emit any persistent organic pollutant directly or indirectly
into the atmosphere;

“Major stationary source category” means any stationary source category listed in annex
VIII;

“New  stationary  source”  means  any  stationary  source  of  which  the  construction  or
substantial  modification  is  commenced  after  the  expiry  of  two  years  from  the  date  of
entry into force of: (i) this Protocol; or (ii) an amendment to annex III or VIII, where the
stationary  source  becomes  subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  Protocol  only  by  virtue  of
that  amendment.  It  shall  be  a  matter  for  the  competent  national  authorities  to  decide
whether  a  modification  is  substantial  or  not,  taking  into  account  such  factors  as  the
environmental benefits of the modification.

Article 2

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present Protocol is to control, reduce or eliminate discharges, emissions and
losses of persistent organic pollutants.

Article 3

BASIC OBLIGATIONS

1.

Except where specifically exempted in accordance with article 4, each Party shall take
effective measures:

8

(a)

To  eliminate  the  production  and  use  of  the  substances  listed  in  annex  I  in
accordance with the implementation requirements specified therein;

(b)

(i)

To  ensure  that,  when  the  substances  listed  in  annex  I  are  destroyed  or
in  an
disposed  of,  such  destruction  or  disposal 
environmentally  sound  manner,  taking  into  account  relevant  subregional,
regional and global regimes governing the management of hazardous wastes
and  their  disposal,  in  particular  the  Basel  Convention  on  the  Control  of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal;

is  undertaken 

(ii) To  endeavour to ensure that the disposal of  substances  listed  in  annex  I  is
carried  out  domestically,  taking  into  account  pertinent  environmental
considerations;

(iii) To  ensure  that  the  transboundary  movement  of  the  substances  listed  in
annex  I  is  conducted  in  an  environmentally  sound  manner,  taking  into
regimes
consideration  applicable  subregional, 
governing  the  transboundary  movement  of  hazardous  wastes,  in  particular
the  Basel  Convention  on  the  Control  of  Transboundary  Movements  of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal;

regional,  and  global 

2.

3.

4.

(c)

To restrict  the substances listed in  annex  II  to  the  uses  described,  in  accordance
with the implementation requirements specified therein.

The  requirements  specified  in  paragraph  1  (b)  above  shall  become  effective  for  each
substance  upon  the  date  that  production  or  use  of  that  substance  is  eliminated,
whichever is later.

For  substances  listed  in  annex  I,  II,  or  III,  each  Party  should  develop  appropriate
strategies for identifying articles still in use and wastes containing such substances, and
shall  take  appropriate  measures  to  ensure  that  such  wastes  and  such  articles,  upon
becoming wastes, are destroyed or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

For  the  purposes  of  paragraphs  1  to  3  above,  the  terms  waste,  disposal,  and
environmentally sound shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the use of those
terms  under  the  Basel  Convention  on  the  Control  of  Transboundary  Movements  of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

5.

Each Party shall:

(a) Reduce  its  total  annual  emissions  of  each  of  the  substances  listed  in  annex  III
from  the  level  of  the  emission  in  a  reference  year  set  in  accordance  with  that
annex by taking effective measures, appropriate in its particular circumstances;

(b) No later than the timescales specified in annex VI, apply:

9

(i)

The  best  available  techniques,  taking  into  consideration  annex  V,  to  each
new  stationary source within  a  major  stationary  source  category  for  which
annex V identifies best available techniques;

(ii) Limit values at least as stringent as those specified in annex IV to each new
stationary  source  within  a  category  mentioned  in  that  annex,  taking  into
consideration  annex  V.  A  Party  may,  as  an  alternative,  apply  different
emission  reduction  strategies  that  achieve  equivalent  overall  emission
levels;

(iii) The  best  available  techniques,  taking  into  consideration  annex  V,  to  each
existing  stationary  source  within  a  major  stationary  source  category  for
which  annex  V  identifies  best  available  techniques,  insofar  as  this  is
technically and economically feasible. A Party may, as an alternative, apply
different  emission  reduction  strategies  that  achieve  equivalent  overall
emission reductions;

(iv) Limit  values  at  least  as  stringent  as  those  specified  in  annex  IV  to  each
existing stationary source within a category mentioned in that annex, insofar
as  this  is  technically  and  economically  feasible,  taking  into  consideration
annex V. A Party may, as an alternative, apply different emission reduction
strategies that achieve equivalent overall emission reductions;

(v) Effective  measures  to  control  emissions  from  mobile  sources,  taking  into

consideration annex VII.

6.

7.

8.

In the case of residential combustion sources, the obligations set out in paragraph 5 (b)
(i) and (iii) above shall refer to all stationary sources in that category taken together.

Where  a  Party,  after  the  application  of  paragraph  5  (b)  above,  cannot  achieve  the
requirements of paragraph 5 (a) above for a substance specified in annex III, it shall be
exempted from its obligations in paragraph 5 (a) above for that substance.

Each Party shall develop and maintain emission inventories for the substances listed in
annex III, and shall collect available information relating to the production and sales of
the substances listed in annexes I and II, for those Parties within the geographical scope
of  EMEP,  using,  as  a  minimum,  the  methodologies  and  the  spatial  and  temporal
resolution specified  by the Steering  Body  of  EMEP, and, for those Parties outside  the
geographical scope of EMEP, using as guidance the methodologies developed through
the work plan of the Executive Body. It shall report this information in accordance with
the reporting requirements set out in article 9 below.

Article 4

EXEMPTIONS

1.

Article  3,  paragraph  1,  shall  not  apply  to  quantities  of  a  substance  to  be  used  for
laboratory-scale research or as a reference standard.

10

2.

A Party may grant an exemption from article 3, paragraphs 1 (a) and (c), in respect of a
particular substance, provided that the exemption is not granted or used in a manner that
would  undermine  the  objectives  of  the  present  Protocol,  and  only  for  the  following
purposes and under the following conditions:

(a)

For research other than that referred to in paragraph 1 above, if:

(i) No  significant  quantity  of  the  substance  is  expected  to  reach  the  environment

during the proposed use and subsequent disposal;

(ii) The  objectives  and  parameters  of  such  research  are  subject  to  assessment

and authorization by the Party; and

(iii)

In the event of a significant release of a substance into the environment, the
exemption  will  terminate  immediately,  measures  will  be  taken  to  mitigate
the release  as  appropriate,  and an  assessment  of  the  containment  measures
will be conducted before research may resume;

(b) To manage as necessary a public health emergency, if:

(i) No  suitable  alternative  measures  are  available  to  the  Party  to  address  the

situation;

(ii) The  measures  taken  are  proportional  to  the  magnitude  and  severity  of  the

emergency;

(iii) Appropriate  precautions  are  taken  to  protect  human  health  and  the
environment  and  to  ensure  that  the  substance  is  not  used  outside  the
geographical area subject to the emergency;

(iv) The  exemption  is  granted  for  a  period  of  time  that  does  not  exceed  the

duration of the emergency; and

(v) Upon termination of the emergency, any remaining stocks of the substance

are subject to the provisions of article 3, paragraph 1 (b);

(c)

For a minor application judged to be essential by the Party, if:

(i)

The exemption is granted for a maximum of five years;

(ii) The exemption has not previously been granted by it under this article;

(iii) No suitable alternatives exist for the proposed use;

(iv) The  Party  has  estimated  the  emissions  of  the  substance  resulting  from  the
exemption  and  their  contribution  to  the  total  emissions  of  the  substance
from the Parties;

11

(v) Adequate  precautions  are  taken  to  ensure  that  the  emissions  to  the

environment are minimized; and

(vi) Upon termination of the exemption, any remaining stocks of the substance

are subject to the provisions of article 3, paragraph 1 (b).

3.

Each Party shall, no later than ninety days after granting an exemption under paragraph
2 above, provide the secretariat with, as a minimum, the following information:

(a)

The chemical name of the substance subject to the exemption;

(b) The purpose for which the exemption has been granted;

(c)

The conditions under which the exemption has been granted;

(d) The length of time for which the exemption has been granted;

(e)

Those to whom, or the organization to which, the exemption applies; and

(f)

For  an  exemption  granted  under  paragraphs  2  (a)  and  (c)  above,  the  estimated
emissions of the substance as a result of the exemption and an assessment of their
contribution to the total emissions of the substance from the Parties.

4.

The  secretariat  shall  make  available  to  all  Parties  the  information  received  under
paragraph 3 above.

Article 5

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY

The  Parties  shall,  in  a  manner  consistent  with  their  laws,  regulations  and  practices,  create
favourable  conditions  to  facilitate  the  exchange  of  information  and  technology  designed  to
reduce the generation and emission of persistent organic pollutants and to develop cost-effective
alternatives, by promoting, inter alia:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Contacts  and  cooperation  among  appropriate  organizations  and  individuals  in  the
private  and  public  sectors  that  are  capable  of  providing  technology,  design  and
engineering services, equipment or finance;

The exchange of and access to information on the development and use of alternatives
to  persistent  organic  pollutants  as  well  as  on  the  evaluation  of  the  risks  that  such
alternatives  pose  to  human  health  and  the  environment,  and  information  on  the
economic and social costs of such alternatives;

The compilation and regular updating of lists of their designated authorities engaged in
similar activities in other international forums;

(d)

The exchange of information on activities conducted in other international forums.

12

Article 6

PUBLIC AWARENESS

The Parties shall, consistent with their laws, regulations and practices, promote the provision of
information to the general public, including individuals who are direct users of persistent organic
pollutants. This information may include, inter alia:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

1.

2.

Information, including labelling, on risk assessment and hazard;

Information on risk reduction;

Information to encourage the elimination of persistent organic pollutants or a reduction
in their use, including, where appropriate, information on integrated pest management,
integrated crop management and the economic and social impacts of this elimination or
reduction; and

Information on alternatives to persistent organic pollutants, as well as an evaluation of
the  risks  that  such  alternatives  pose  to  human  health  and  the  environment,  and
information on the economic and social impacts of such alternative.

Article 7

STRATEGIES, POLICIES, PROGRAMMES, MEASURES AND INFORMATION1.

Each Party shall, no later than six months  after  the  date  on  which  this Protocol enters
into  force  for  it,  develop  strategies,  policies  and  programmes  in  order  to  discharge  its
obligations under the present Protocol.

Each Party shall:

(a)

Encourage the use of economically feasible, environmentally sound management
techniques, including best environmental practices, with respect to all aspects of
the  use,  production,  release,  processing,  distribution,  handling,  transport  and
reprocessing  of  substances  subject  to  the  present  Protocol  and  manufactured
articles, mixtures or solutions containing such substances;

(b) Encourage  the  implementation  of  other  management  programmes  to  reduce
emissions  of  persistent  organic  pollutants,  including  voluntary  programmes  and
the use of economic instruments;

(c) Consider  the  adoption  of  additional  policies  and  measures  as  appropriate  in  its

particular circumstances, which may include non-regulatory approaches;

(d) Make  determined  efforts  that  are  economically  feasible  to  reduce  levels  of
substances  subject  to  the  present  Protocol  that  are  contained  as  contaminants  in
other  substances,  chemical  products  or  manufactured  articles,  as  soon  as  the
relevance of the source has been established;

13

(e)

Take  into  consideration  in  its  programmes  for  evaluating  substances,  the
characteristics  specified  in  paragraph  1  of  Executive  Body  decision  1998/2  on
information to be submitted and procedures for adding substances to annex I, II or
III, including any amendments thereto.

3.

The  Parties  may  take  more  stringent  measures  than  those  required  by  the  present
Protocol.

Article 8

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING

The Parties shall encourage research, development, monitoring and cooperation related, but not
limited, to:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

Emissions,  long-range  transport  and  deposition  levels  and  their  modelling,  existing
levels  in  the  biotic  and  abiotic  environment,  the  elaboration  of  procedures  for
harmonizing relevant methodologies;

Pollutant pathways and inventories in representative ecosystems;

Relevant effects on human health and the environment, including quantification of those
effects;

Best  available  techniques  and  practices,  including  agricultural  practices,  and  emission
control  techniques  and  practices  currently  employed  by  the  Parties  or  under
development;

Methodologies permitting consideration of socio-economic factors in the evaluation of
alternative control strategies;

including
An  effects-based  approach  which 
information  obtained  under  subparagraphs  (a)  to  (e)  above,  on  measured  or  modelled
environmental levels, pathways, and effects on human health and the environment, for
the  purpose  of  formulating  future  control  strategies  which  also  take  into  account
economic and technological factors;

integrates  appropriate 

information, 

Methods for estimating national emissions and projecting future emissions of individual
persistent organic pollutants and for evaluating how such estimates and projections can
be used to structure future obligations;

Levels of substances subject to the present Protocol that are contained as contaminants
in other substances, chemical products or manufactured articles and the significance of
these  levels  for  long-range  transport,  as  well  as  techniques  to  reduce  levels  of  these
contaminants, and, in addition, levels of persistent organic  pollutants  generated during
the life cycle of timber treated with pentachlorophenol.

14

Priority  should  be  given  to  research  on  substances  considered  to  be  the  most  likely  to  be
submitted under the procedures specified in article 14, paragraph 6.

Article 9

REPORTING

1.

Subject to its laws governing the confidentiality of commercial information:

(a)

Each  Party  shall  report,  through  the  Executive  Secretary  of  the  Commission,  to
the  Executive  Body,  on  a  periodic  basis  as  determined  by  the  Parties  meeting
within  the  Executive  Body,  information  on  the  measures  that  it  has  taken  to
implement the present Protocol;

(b) Each  Party  within  the  geographical  scope  of  EMEP  shall  report,  through  the
Executive  Secretary  of  the  Commission,  to  EMEP,  on  a  periodic  basis  to  be
determined  by  the  Steering  Body  of  EMEP  and  approved  by  the  Parties  at  a
session  of  the  Executive  Body,  information  on  the  levels  of  emissions  of
persistent  organic  pollutants  using,  as  a  minimum,  the  methodologies  and  the
temporal and spatial resolution specified by the Steering  Body of EMEP. Parties
in  areas  outside  the  geographical  scope  of  EMEP  shall  make  available  similar
information  to  the  Executive  Body  if  requested  to  do  so.  Each  Party  shall  also
provide information on the levels of emissions of the substances listed in annex III
for the reference year specified in that annex.

The  information  to  be  reported  in  accordance  with  paragraph  1  (a)  above  shall  be  in
conformity with a decision regarding format and content to be adopted by the Parties at
a  session  of  the  Executive  Body.  The  terms  of  this  decision  shall  be  reviewed  as
necessary to identify any additional elements regarding the format or the content of the
information that is to be included in the reports.

In  good  time  before  each  annual  session  of  the  Executive  Body,  EMEP  shall  provide
information on the long-range transport and deposition of persistent organic pollutants.

Article 10

REVIEWS BY THE PARTIES AT SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BODY

The Parties shall, at sessions of the Executive Body, pursuant to article 10, paragraph 2
(a), of the Convention, review the information supplied by the Parties, EMEP and other
subsidiary  bodies,  and  the  reports  of  the  Implementation  Committee  referred  to  in
article 11 of the present Protocol.

The  Parties  shall,  at  sessions  of  the  Executive  Body,  keep  under  review  the  progress
made towards achieving the obligations set out in the present Protocol.

The  Parties  shall,  at  sessions  of  the  Executive  Body,  review  the  sufficiency  and
effectiveness of the obligations set out in the present  Protocol.  Such reviews will take

15

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

into account the best available scientific information on the effects of the deposition of
persistent  organic  pollutants,  assessments  of  technological  developments,  changing
economic  conditions  and  the  fulfilment  of  the  obligations  on  emission  levels.  The
procedures, methods and timing for such reviews shall be specified by the Parties at a
session of the Executive Body.  The  first such review shall  be completed  no later than
three years after the present Protocol enters into force.

Article 11

COMPLIANCE

Compliance  by  each  Party  with  its  obligations  under  the  present  Protocol  shall  be  reviewed
regularly. The Implementation Committee established by decision 1997/2 of the Executive Body
at its fifteenth session shall carry out such reviews and report to the Parties meeting within the
Executive  Body  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  annex  to  that  decision,  including  any
amendments thereto.

Article 12

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

1.

2.

In the event of a dispute between any two or more Parties concerning the interpretation
or application of the present Protocol, the Parties  concerned  shall seek  a  settlement of
the  dispute through negotiation  or  any  other  peaceful  means  of  their  own  choice.  The
parties to the dispute shall inform the Executive Body of their dispute.

When ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the present Protocol, or at anytime
thereafter,  a  Party  which  is  not  a  regional  economic  integration  organization  may
declare  in  a  written  instrument  submitted  to  the  Depositary  that,  in  respect  of  any
dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Protocol, it recognizes one or
both of the following means of dispute settlement as compulsory ipso facto and without
special agreement, in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation:

(a)

Submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice;

(b) Arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by the Parties at a session

of the Executive Body, as soon as practicable, in an annex on arbitration.

A Party which is a regional economic integration organization may make a declaration with like
effect in relation to arbitration in accordance with the procedures referred to in subparagraph (b)
above.

3.

A  declaration  made  under  paragraph  2  above  shall  remain  in  force  until  it  expires  in
accordance with its terms or until three months after written notice of its revocation has
been deposited with the Depositary.

16

4.

5.

6.

A new declaration, a notice of revocation or the expiry of a declaration shall not in any
way affect proceedings pending before the International Court of Justice or the arbitral
tribunal, unless the parties to the dispute agree otherwise.

Except in a case where the parties to a dispute have accepted the same means of dispute
settlement under paragraph 2, if after twelve months following notification by one Party
to another that a dispute exists between them, the Parties concerned have not been able
to  settle  their  dispute  through  the  means  mentioned  in  paragraph  1  above,  the  dispute
shall be submitted, at the request of any of the parties to the dispute, to conciliation.

For  the  purpose  of  paragraph  5,  a  conciliation  commission  shall  be  created.  The
commission shall be composed of equal numbers of members appointed by each Party
concerned  or,  where  the  Parties  in  conciliation  share  the  same  interest,  by  the  group
sharing that interest, and a chairperson chosen jointly by the members so appointed. The
commission shall render a  recommendatory  award, which  the  Parties  shall consider in
good faith.

Article 13

ANNEXES

The annexes to the present Protocol shall form an integral part of the Protocol. Annexes V and
VII are recommendatory in character.

Article 14

AMENDMENTS

1.

2.

3.

4.

Any Party may propose amendments to the present Protocol.

Proposed  amendments  shall  be  submitted  in  writing  to  the  Executive  Secretary  of  the
Commission, who shall communicate them to all Parties. The Parties meeting within the
Executive  Body  shall  discuss  the  proposed  amendments  at  its  next  session,  provided
that the proposals have been circulated by the Executive Secretary to the Parties at least
ninety days in advance.

Amendments  to  the  present  Protocol  and  to  annexes  I  to  IV,  VI  and  VIII  shall  be
adopted  by  consensus  of  the  Parties  present  at  a  session  of  the  Executive  Body,  and
shall enter into force for the Parties which have accepted them on the ninetieth day after
the  date  on  which  two  thirds  of  the  Parties  have  deposited  with  the  Depositary  their
instruments  of  acceptance  thereof.  Amendments  shall  enter  into  force  for  any  other
Party on the ninetieth day after the date on which that Party has deposited its instrument
of acceptance thereof.

Amendments to annexes V and VII shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present
at  a  session  of  the  Executive  Body.  On  the  expiry  of  ninety  days  from  the  date  of  its
communication  to  all  Parties  by  the  Executive  Secretary  of  the  Commission,  an
amendment to any such annex shall become effective for those Parties which have not

17

5.

6.

7.

1.

2.

submitted  to  the  Depositary  a  notification  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
paragraph  5  below,  provided  that  at  least  sixteen  Parties  have  not  submitted  such  a
notification.

Any Party that is unable to approve an amendment to annex V or VII shall so notify the
Depositary  in  writing  within  ninety  days  from  the  date  of  the  communication  of  its
adoption. The Depositary shall without delay notify all Parties of any such notification
received. A Party may at any time substitute an acceptance for its previous notification
and, upon deposit of an instrument of acceptance with the Depositary, the amendment to
such an annex shall become effective for that Party.

In the case of a proposal to amend annex I, II, or III by adding a substance to the present
Protocol:

(a)

The proposer shall provide the Executive Body with the information specified in
Executive Body decision 1998/2, including any amendments thereto; and

(b) The Parties shall evaluate the proposal in accordance with the procedures set forth

in Executive Body decision 1998/2, including any amendments thereto.

Any decision to amend Executive Body decision 1998/2 shall be taken by consensus of
the Parties meeting within the Executive Body and shall take effect sixty days after the
date of adoption.

Article 15

SIGNATURE

The  present  Protocol  shall  be  open  for  signature  at  Aarhus  (Denmark)  from
24 to 25 June 1998, 
in  New York  until
then  at  United  Nations  Headquarters 
21 December 1998,  by  States  members  of  the  Commission  as  well  as  States  having
consultative  status  with  the  Commission  pursuant  to  paragraph  8  of  Economic  and
Social  Council  resolution  36  (IV)  of  28  March  1947,  and  by  regional  economic
integration organizations, constituted by sovereign States members of the Commission,
which  have  competence  in  respect  of  the  negotiation,  conclusion  and  application  of
international  agreements  in  matters  covered  by  the  Protocol,  provided  that  the  States
and organizations concerned are Parties to the Convention.

In  matters  within  their  competence,  such  regional  economic  integration  organizations
shall,  on  their  own  behalf,  exercise  the  rights  and  fulfil  the  responsibilities  which  the
present Protocol attributes to their member States. In such cases, the member States of
these organizations shall not be entitled to exercise such rights individually.

18

Article 16

RATIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL AND ACCESSION

1.

2.

The  present  Protocol  shall  be  subject  to  ratification,  acceptance  or  approval  by
Signatories.

The  present  Protocol  shall  be  open  for  accession  as  from  21 December 1998  by  the
States and organizations that meet the requirements of article 15, paragraph 1.

Article 17

DEPOSITARY

The  instruments  of  ratification,  acceptance,  approval  or  accession  shall  be  deposited  with  the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, who will perform the functions of Depositary.

Article 18

ENTRY INTO FORCE

1.

2.

The  present  Protocol  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  ninetieth  day  following  the  date  on
which  the  sixteenth  instrument  of  ratification,  acceptance,  approval  or  accession  has
been deposited with the Depositary.

For  each  State  and  organization  referred  to  in  article  15,  paragraph  1,  which  ratifies,
accepts  or  approves  the  present  Protocol  or  accedes  thereto  after  the  deposit  of  the
sixteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Protocol shall
enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit by such Party of its
instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

Article 19

WITHDRAWAL

At any time after five years from the date on which the present Protocol has come into force with
respect  to  a  Party,  that  Party  may  withdraw  from  it  by  giving  written  notification  to  the
Depositary. Any such withdrawal shall take effect on the ninetieth day following the date of its
receipt  by  the  Depositary,  or  on  such  later  date  as  may  be  specified  in  the  notification  of  the
withdrawal.

19

Article 20

AUTHENTIC TEXTS

The original of the present Protocol, of which the English, French and Russian texts are equally
authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed
the present Protocol.

Done at Aarhus (Denmark), this twenty-fourth day of June, one thousand nine hundred
and ninety-eight.

20

Annex I

SUBSTANCES SCHEDULED FOR ELIMINATION

Unless otherwise specified in the present Protocol, this annex shall not apply to the substances
listed below when they occur: (i) as contaminants in products; or (ii) in articles manufactured or
in  use  by  the  implementation  date;  or  (iii)  as  site-limited  chemical  intermediates  in  the
manufacture  of  one  or  more  different  substances  and  are  thus  chemically  transformed.  Unless
otherwise specified, each obligation below is  effective upon  the date  of  entry  into  force  of  the
Protocol.

Implementation requirements

Substance

Elimination of

Conditions

Aldrin

Production

CAS: 309-00-2

Use

Chlordane

Production

CAS: 57-74-9

Use

Chlordecone

Production

CAS: 143-50-0

Use

DDT

Production

CAS: 50-29-3

None

None

None

None

None

None

1. Eliminate production within one year of consensus by the Parties
that  suitable  alternatives  to  DDT  are  available  for  public  health
protection from diseases such as malaria and encephalitis.

2. With a view to eliminating the production of DDT at the earliest
opportunity, the Parties shall, no later than one year after the date of
entry  into  force  of  the  present  Protocol  and  periodically  thereafter
the  World  Health
in  consultation  with 
as  necessary,  and 
Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations  and  the  United  Nations  Environment  Programme,  review
the  availability  and  feasibility  of  alternatives  and,  as  appropriate,
promote  the  commercialization  of  safer  and  economically  viable
alternatives to DDT.

Use

None, except as identified in annex II.

Dieldrin

Production

CAS: 60-57-1

Use

Endrin

Production

CAS: 72-20-8

Use

Heptachlor

Production

CAS: 76-44-8

None

None

None

None

None

21

Implementation requirements

Substance

Elimination of

Conditions

Use

None,  except  for  use  by  certified  personnel  for  the  control  of  fire
ants in closed industrial electrical junction boxes. Such use shall be
re-evaluated  under  this  Protocol  no  later  than  two  years  after  the
date of entry into force.

Hexabromobiphenyl

Production

CAS: 36355-01-8

Use

None

None

Hexachlorobenzene

Production

CAS: 118-74-1

None, except for production for a limited purpose as specified in a
statement  deposited  by  a  country  with  an  economy  in  transition
upon signature or accession.

Use

None, except for a limited use as specified in a statement deposited
by  a  country  with  an  economy  in  transition  upon  signature  or
accession.

Mirex

Production

CAS: 2385-85-5

Use

None

None

PCB a/

Production

None, except for countries with economies in transition which shall
eliminate  production  as  soon  as  possible  and  no  later  than
31 December 2005 and which state in a declaration to be deposited
together  with  their  instrument  of  ratification,  acceptance,  approval
or accession, their intention to do so.

Use

None, except as identified in annex II.

Toxaphene

Production

CAS: 8001-35-2

Use

None

None

a/ The Parties agree to reassess under the Protocol by 31 December 2004 the production and use
of polychlorinated terphenyls and “ugilec”.

22

Annex II

SUBSTANCES SCHEDULED FOR RESTRICTIONS ON USE

Unless otherwise specified in the present Protocol, this annex shall not apply to the substances
listed below when they occur: (i) as contaminants in products; or (ii) in articles manufactured or
in  use  by  the  implementation  date;  or  (iii)  as  site-limited  chemical  intermediates  in  the
manufacture  of  one  or  more  different  substances  and  are  thus  chemically  transformed.  Unless
otherwise specified, each obligation below is  effective upon  the date  of  entry  into  force  of  the
Protocol.

Implementation requirements

Substance

Restricted to uses

Conditions

DDT

CAS: 50-29-3

1.  For  public  health  protection  from  diseases
such as malaria and encephalitis.

2.  As  a  chemical  intermediate  to  produce
Dicofol.

1.  Use  allowed  only  as  a  component  of  an
integrated  pest  management  strategy  and  only  to
the extent necessary and only until one  year after
the  date  of  the  elimination  of  production  in
accordance with annex I.

2.  Such  use  shall  be  reassessed  no  later  than  two
years  after  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  the
present Protocol.

HCH

CAS: 608-73-1

Technical  HCH  (i.e.  HCH  mixed  isomers)  is
in
restricted 
chemical manufacturing.

to  use  as  an 

intermediate 

Products  in  which  at  least  99%  of  the  HCH
isomer  is  in  the  gamma  form  (i.e.  lindane,
CAS: 58-89-9) are restricted to the following
uses:

All  restricted  uses  of  lindane  shall  be  reassessed
under the Protocol no later than two years after the
date of entry into force.

1.

Seed treatment.

Soil  applications  directly  followed  by

2.
incorporation into the topsoil surface layer.

Professional  remedial  and 

3.
treatment of lumber, timber and logs.

industrial

Public  health  and  veterinary  topical

4.
insecticide.

5.
Non-aerial application to tree seedlings,
small-scale lawn use, and indoor and outdoor
use for nursery stock and ornamentals.

6.
Indoor 
applications.

industrial 

and 

residential

PCBs in use as of the date of entry into force
or  produced  up  to  31 December 2005  in
accordance with the provisions of annex I.

23

PCB a/

Parties shall  make determined efforts  designed  to
lead to:

Implementation requirements

Substance

Restricted to uses

Conditions

(a) The elimination of the use of identifiable PCBs
in equipment (i.e. transformers, capacitors or other
receptacles  containing  residual 
liquid  stocks)
containing PCBs in volumes greater than

5 dm3 and having a concentration of 0.05% PCBs
or  greater,  as  soon  as  possible,  but  no  later  than
31 December  2010,  or  31 December  2015  for
countries with economies in transition;

(b)  The  destruction  or  decontamination  in  an
environmentally sound manner of all liquid PCBs
referred  to  in  subparagraph  (a)  and  other  liquid
PCBs  containing  more  than  0.005%  PCBs  not  in
equipment,  as  soon  as  possible,  but  no  later  than
31 December  2015,  or  31 December  2020  for
countries with economies in transition; and

(c) The decontamination or disposal of equipment
an
referred 
environmentally sound manner.

subparagraph 

(a) 

to 

in 

in 

a/ The Parties agree to reassess under the Protocol by 31 December 2004 the production and use
of polychlorinated terphenyls and “ugilec”.

24

Annex III

SUBSTANCES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3, PARAGRAPH 5 (a), AND THE
REFERENCE YEAR FOR THE OBLIGATION

Substance

Reference year

PAHs a/

Dioxins/furans b/

Hexachlorobenzene

1990; or an alternative year from 1985 to 1995 inclusive, specified by a Party upon
ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

1990; or an alternative year from 1985 to 1995 inclusive, specified by a Party upon
ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

1990; or an alternative year from 1985 to 1995 inclusive, specified by a Party upon
ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

a/
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): For the purposes of emission inventories, the
following  four  indicator  compounds  shall  be  used:  benzo(a)pyrene,  benzo(b)fluoranthene,
benzo(k)fluoranthene, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene.

b/
Dioxins  and  furans  (PCDD/F):  Polychlorinated  dibenzo-p-dioxins  (PCDD)  and
polychlorinated  dibenzofurans  (PCDF)  are  tricyclic,  aromatic  compounds  formed  by  two
benzene rings which are connected by two oxygen atoms in PCDD and by one oxygen atom in
PCDF and the hydrogen atoms of which may be replaced by up to eight chlorine atoms.

25

LIMIT VALUES FOR PCDD/F FROM MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCES

Annex IV

I.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

II.

7.

INTRODUCTION

A  definition  of  dioxins  and  furans  (PCDD/F)  is  provided  in  annex  III  to  the  present
Protocol.

Limit  values  are  expressed  as  ng/m3  or  mg/m3  under  standard  conditions  (273.15  K,
101.3 kPa, and dry gas).

Limit  values  relate  to  the  normal  operating  situation,  including  start-up  and  shutdown
procedures, unless specific limit values have been defined for those situations.

Sampling  and  analysis of  all pollutants  shall  be carried  out according  to  the  standards
laid  down  by  the  Comité  européen  de  normalisation  (CEN),  the  International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), or the corresponding United States or Canadian
reference methods. While awaiting the development of CEN or ISO standards, national
standards shall apply.

For  verification  purposes,  the  interpretation  of  measurement  results  in  relation  to  the
limit value must also take into account the inaccuracy  of  the  measurement  method.  A
limit  value  is  considered  to  be  met  if  the  result  of  the  measurement,  from  which  the
inaccuracy of the measurement method is subtracted, does not exceed it.

Emissions of different congeners of PCDD/F are  given  in toxicity  equivalents (TE) in
comparison to  2,3,7,8-TCDD using the  system  proposed  by  the  NATO  Committee  on
the Challenges of Modern Society (NATO-CCMS) in 1988.

LIMIT VALUES FOR MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCES

The following limit values, which  refer to 11% O2 concentration in flue  gas, apply to
the following incinerator types:

–  Municipal solid waste (burning more than 3 tonnes per hour)

0.1 ng TE/m3

–  Medical solid waste (burning more than 1 tonne per hour)

0.5 ng TE/m3

–  Hazardous waste (burning more than 1 tonne per hour)

0.2 ng TE/m3

26

Annex V

BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES TO CONTROL EMISSIONS OF PERSISTENT
ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCES

I.

1.

2.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this annex is to provide the Parties to the Convention with guidance in
identifying best available techniques to allow them to meet the obligations in article 3,
paragraph 5, of the Protocol.

“Best available techniques” (BAT) means the most effective and advanced stage in the
development  of  activities  and  their  methods  of  operation  which  indicate  the  practical
suitability of particular techniques for providing in principle the basis for emission limit
values  designed  to  prevent  and,  where  that  is  not  practicable,  generally  to  reduce
emissions and their impact on the environment as a whole:

-

-

-

“Techniques”  includes  both  the  technology  used  and  the  way  in  which  the
installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and decommissioned;

“Available”  techniques  means  those  developed  on  a  scale  which  allows
implementation  in  the  relevant  industrial  sector,  under  economically  and
technically viable conditions, taking into consideration the costs and advantages,
whether or not the techniques are used or produced inside the territory of the Party
in question, as long as they are reasonably accessible to the operator;

“Best” means most effective in achieving a high general level of protection of the
environment as a whole.

In determining the best available techniques, special consideration should be given, generally or
in specific cases, to the factors below, bearing in mind the likely costs and benefits of a measure
and the principles of precaution and prevention:

-

-

-

-

-

-

The use of low-waste technology;

The use of less hazardous substances;

The furthering of recovery and recycling of substances generated and used in the
process and of waste;

Comparable  processes,  facilities  or  methods  of  operation  which  have  been  tried
with success on an industrial scale;

Technological advances and changes in scientific knowledge and understanding;

The nature, effects and volume of the emissions concerned;

27

-

-

-

-

-

The commissioning dates for new or existing installations;

The time needed to introduce the best available technique;

The  consumption  and  nature  of  raw  materials  (including  water)  used  in  the
process and its energy efficiency;

The need to prevent or reduce to a minimum the overall impact of the emissions
on the environment and the risks to it;

The  need  to  prevent  accidents  and  to  minimize  their  consequences  for  the
environment.

The  concept  of  best  available  techniques  is  not  aimed  at  the  prescription  of  any  specific
technique or technology, but at taking into account the technical characteristics of the installation
concerned, its geographical location and the local environmental conditions.

3.

4.

5.

Information  regarding  the  effectiveness  and  costs  of  control  measures  is  based  on
documents  received  and  reviewed  by  the  Task  Force  and  the  Preparatory  Working
Group on POPs. Unless otherwise indicated, the techniques listed are considered to be
well established on the basis of operational experience.

Experience  with  new  plants  incorporating  low-emission  techniques,  as  well  as  with
retrofitting  of  existing  plants,  is  continuously  growing.  The  regular  elaboration  and
amendment of the annex will therefore be necessary. Best  available  techniques (BAT)
identified for new plants can usually be applied to existing plants provided there is an
adequate transition period and they are adapted.

The  annex  lists  a  number  of  control  measures  which  span  a  range  of  costs  and
efficiencies. The choice of measures for any particular case will depend on a number of
factors,  including  economic  circumstances,  technological  infrastructure  and  capacity,
and any existing air pollution control measures.

6.

The most important POPs emitted from stationary sources are:

(a)

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/F);

(b) Hexachlorobenzene (HCB);

(c)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Relevant definitions are provided in annex III to the present Protocol.

28

II.

7.

MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCES OF POP EMISSIONS

PCDD/F are emitted from thermal processes involving organic matter and chlorine as a
result  of  incomplete  combustion  or  chemical  reactions.  Major  stationary  sources  of
PCDD/F may be as follows:

(a) Waste incineration, including co-incineration;

(b) Thermal  metallurgical  processes,  e.g.  production  of  aluminium  and  other  non-

ferrous metals, iron and steel;

(c) Combustion plants providing energy;

(d) Residential combustion; and

(e)

Specific chemical production processes releasing intermediates and by-products.

8.

Major stationary sources of PAH emissions may be as follows:

(a) Domestic wood and coal heating;

(b) Open fires such as refuse burning, forest fires and after-crop burning;

(c) Coke and anode production;

(d) Aluminium production (via Soederberg process); and

(e) Wood preservation  installations,  except  for  a  Party  for  which  this  category  does
not  make  a  significant  contribution  to  its  total  emissions  of  PAH  (as  defined  in
annex III).

9.

Emissions of HCB result from the same type of thermal and chemical processes as those
emitting PCDD/F, and HCB is formed by a similar mechanism. Major sources of HCB
emissions may be as follows:

(a) Waste incineration plants, including co-incineration;

(b) Thermal sources of metallurgical industries; and

(c) Use of chlorinated fuels in furnace installations.

29

III.

10.

11.

12.

GENERAL APPROACHES TO CONTROLLING EMISSIONS OF POPS

There  are  several  approaches  to  the  control  or  prevention  of  POP  emissions  from
stationary  sources.  These  include  the  replacement  of  relevant  feed  materials,  process
modifications (including maintenance  and operational control) and retrofitting existing
plants.  The  following  list  provides  a  general  indication  of  available  measures,  which
may be implemented either separately or in combination:

(a) Replacement  of  feed  materials  which  are  POPs  or  where  there  is  a  direct  link

between the materials and POP emissions from the source;

(b) Best environmental practices such as good housekeeping, preventive maintenance
programmes, or process changes such as closed systems (for instance in cokeries
or use of inert electrodes for electrolysis);

(c) Modification  of  process  design  to  ensure  complete  combustion,  thus  preventing
the  formation  of  persistent  organic  pollutants,  through  the  control  of  parameters
such as incineration temperature or residence time;

(d) Methods  for  flue-gas  cleaning  such  as  thermal  or  catalytic  incineration  or

oxidation, dust precipitation, adsorption;

(e)

Treatment  of  residuals,  wastes  and  sewage  sludge  by,  for  example,  thermal
treatment or rendering them inert.

The  emission  levels  given  for  different  measures  in  tables  1,  2,  4,  5,  6,  8,  and  9  are
generally case-specific. The figures or ranges give the emission levels as a percentage of
the emission limit values using conventional techniques.

Cost-efficient considerations may be based on total costs per year per unit of abatement
(including capital and operational costs). POP emission reduction costs should also be
considered  within  the  framework  of  the  overall  process  economics,  e.g.  the  impact  of
control  measures  and  costs  of  production.  Given  the  many  influencing  factors,
investment and operating cost figures are highly case-specific.

30

IV.

A.

13.

CONTROL TECHNIQUES FOR THE REDUCTION OF PCDD/F EMISSIONS

Waste incineration

Waste  incineration  includes  municipal  waste,  hazardous  waste,  medical  waste  and
sewage sludge incineration.

14.

The main control measures for PCDD/F emissions from waste incineration facilities are:

(a)

Primary measures regarding incinerated wastes;

(b)

Primary measures regarding process techniques;

(c) Measures  to  control  physical  parameters  of  the  combustion  process  and  waste

gases (e.g. temperature stages, cooling rate, O2 content, etc.);

(d) Cleaning of the flue gas; and

(e)

Treatment of residuals from the cleaning process.

15.

16.

17.

The  primary  measures  regarding  the  incinerated  wastes,  involving  the  management  of
feed  material  by  reducing  halogenated  substances  and  replacing  them  by  non-
halogenated  alternatives,  are  not  appropriate  for  municipal  or  hazardous  waste
incineration.  It  is  more  effective  to  modify  the  incineration  process  and  install
secondary measures for flue-gas cleaning. The management of feed material is a useful
primary  measure  for  waste  reduction  and  has  the  possible  added  benefit  of  recycling.
This  may  result  in  indirect  PCDD/F  reduction  by  decreasing  the  waste  amounts  to  be
incinerated.

The  modification  of  process  techniques  to  optimize  combustion  conditions  is  an
important and effective measure for the reduction of PCDD/F emissions (usually 850°C
or higher, assessment of oxygen supply depending on the heating value and consistency
of the wastes, sufficient residence  time –  850°C for ca.  2 sec  -- and  turbulence  of  the
gas,  avoidance  of  cold  gas  regions  in  the  incinerator,  etc.).  Fluidized  bed  incinerators
keep  a  lower  temperature  than  850°C  with  adequate  emission  results.  For  existing
incinerators  this  would  normally  involve  redesigning  and/or  replacing  a  plant  --  an
option  which  may  not  be  economically  viable  in  all  countries.  The  carbon  content  in
ashes should be minimized.

Flue  gas  measures.  The  following  measures  are  possibilities  for  lowering  reasonably
effectively  the  PCDD/F  content  in  the  flue  gas.  The  de novo  synthesis  takes  place  at
about 250 to 450°C. These measures are a prerequisite for further reductions to achieve
the desired levels at the end of the pipe:

(a) Quenching the flue gases (very effective and relatively inexpensive);

31

(b) Adding inhibitors such as triethanolamine or triethylamine (can reduce oxides of
nitrogen as well), but side-reactions have to be considered for safety reasons;

(c) Using  dust  collection  systems  for  temperatures  between  800  and  1000°C,  e.g.

ceramic filters and cyclones;

(d) Using low-temperature electric discharge systems; and

(e) Avoiding fly ash deposition in the flue gas exhaust system.

18.

Methods for cleaning the flue gas are:

(a) Conventional dust precipitators for the reduction of particle-bound PCDD/F;

(b)

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR);

(c) Adsorption with activated charcoal or coke in fixed or fluidized systems;

(d) Different  types  of  adsorption  methods  and  optimized  scrubbing  systems  with
mixtures of activated charcoal, open hearth coal, lime and limestone solutions in
fixed  bed,  moving  bed  and  fluidized  bed  reactors.  The  collection  efficiency  for
gaseous  PCDD/F  can  be  improved  with  the  use  of  a  suitable  pre-coat  layer  of
activated coke on the surface of a bag filter;

(e) H2O2-oxidation; and

(f)

Catalytic combustion methods using  different  types  of catalysts (i.e.  Pt/Al2O3  or
copper-chromite  catalysts  with  different  promoters  to  stabilize  the  surface  area
and to reduce ageing of the catalysts).

The methods mentioned above are capable of reaching emission levels of 0.1 ng TE/m3
PCDD/F  in  the  flue  gas.  However,  in  systems  using  activated  charcoal  or  coke
adsorbers/filters care must be taken to ensure that fugitive carbon dust does not increase
PCDD/F emissions downstream. Also, it should be noted that adsorbers and dedusting
installations  prior  to  catalysts  (SCR  technique)  yield  PCDD/F-laden  residues,  which
need to be reprocessed or require proper disposal.

A  comparison  between  the  different  measures  to  reduce  PCDD/F  in  flue  gas  is  very
complex. The resulting matrix includes a wide range of industrial plants with different
capacities  and  configuration.  Cost  parameters  include  the  reduction  measures  for
minimizing  other  pollutants  as  well,  such  as  heavy  metals  (particle-bound  or  not
particle-bound). A direct relation for the reduction in PCDD/F emissions alone cannot,
therefore,  be  isolated  in  most  cases.  A  summary  of  the  available  data  for  the  various
control measures is given in table 1.

Medical  waste  incinerators  may  be  a  major  source  of  PCDD/F  in  many  countries.
Specific medical wastes such as human anatomical parts, infected waste, needles, blood,
plasma  and  cytostatica  are  treated  as  a  special  form  of  hazardous  waste,  while  other

32

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

medical  wastes  are  frequently  incinerated  on-site  in  a  batch  operation.  Incinerators
operating with batch systems can meet the same requirements for PCDD/F reduction as
other waste incinerators.

Parties  may  wish  to  consider  adopting  policies  to  encourage  the  incineration  of
municipal and medical waste in large regional facilities rather than in smaller ones. This
approach may make the application of BAT more cost-effective.

The treatment of residuals from the flue-gas cleaning process. Unlike incinerator ashes,
these  residuals  contain  relatively  high  concentrations  of  heavy  metals,  organic
pollutants  (including  PCDD/F),  chlorides  and  sulphides.  Their  method  of  disposal,
therefore,  has  to  be  well  controlled.  Wet  scrubber  systems  in  particular  produce  large
quantities of acidic, contaminated liquid waste. Some special treatment methods exist.
They include:

(a)

The catalytic treatment of fabric filter dusts under conditions of low temperatures
and lack of oxygen;

(b) The scrubbing of fabric filter dusts by the 3-R process (extraction of heavy metals

by acids and combustion for destruction of organic matter);

(c)

The vitrification of fabric filter dusts;

(d)

Further methods of immobilization; and

(e)

The application of plasma technology.

33

Table 1: Comparison of different flue-gas cleaning measures and process modifications in
waste incineration plants to reduce PCDD/F emissions

Management options

Emission level
(%)a/

Estimated
costs

Management risks

Resulting
emission 
level
quantified;
not 
seems  not  to  be
linearly
dependent  on  the
the
amount  of 
feed material.

Pre-sorting  of  feed  material  not  effective;  only
parts could be collected; other chlorine-containing
material,  for  instance  kitchen  salt,  paper,  etc.,
cannot be avoided. For hazardous chemical waste
this is not desirable.

(for 

Useful  primary  measure  and  feasible  in  special
cases 
instance,  waste  oils,  electrical
components, etc.) with the possible added benefit
of recycling of the materials.

Retrofitting of the whole process needed.

Primary measures by modification of
feed materials:

-

-

Elimination  of  precursors  and
feed
chlorine-containing 
material; and

Management of waste streams.

Modification of process technology:

-

-

-

-

Optimized combustion conditions;

Avoidance  of  temperatures  below
850°C  and  cold  regions  in  flue
gas;

Sufficient oxygen content; control
of oxygen input depending on the
heating  value  and  consistency  of
feed material; and

Sufficient 
turbulence.

residence 

time  and

Flue gas measures:

Avoiding particle deposition by:

- Soot cleaners, mechanical rappers,
sonic or steam soot blowers.

removal,  generally 

Dust 
incinerators:

in  waste

< 10

Medium

Steam  soot  blowing  can 
formation rates.

increase  PCDD/F

Removal  of  PCDD/F  adsorbed  onto  particles.
Removal  methods  of  particles  in  hot  flue  gas
streams used only in pilot plants.

- Fabric filters;

- Ceramic filters;

1 - 0.1

Higher

Use at temperatures < 150°C.

Low efficiency

Use at temperatures of 800-1000°C.

- Cyclones; and

Low efficiency

Medium

- Electrostatic precipitation.

Medium
efficiency

Use at a temperature  of  450°C;  promotion of  the
de novo synthesis  of  PCDD/F  possible,  higher
NOx emissions, reduction of heat recovery.

34

Management options

Emission level
(%)a/

Estimated
costs

Management risks

Catalytic oxidation.

Gas quenching.

High-performance  adsorption  unit  with
added  activated  charcoal  particles
(electrodynamic venturi).

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

Use at temperatures of 800-1000°C. Separate gas
phase abatement necessary.

High in-
vestment and
low operating
costs

reduction  if  NH3  is  added;  high  space
NOx
demand, spent catalysts and residues  of  activated
carbon  (AC)  or  lignite  coke  (ALC)  may  be
disposed  of,  catalysts  can  be  reprocessed  by
manufacturers in most cases, AC and ALC can be
combusted under strictly controlled conditions.

Different 
types  of  wet  and  dry
adsorption  methods  with  mixtures  of
activated  charcoal,  open-hearth  coke,
lime  and  limestone  solutions  in  fixed
bed,  moving  bed  and  fluidized  bed
reactors:

-  Fixed  bed  reactor,  adsorption  with
activated charcoal or open-hearth coke;
and

< 2
(0.1 ng TE/m3)

- Entrained flow or circulating fluidized
bed  reactor  with  added  activated
coke/lime  or  limestone  solutions
and subsequent fabric filter.

< 10
(0.1 ng TE/m3)

High in-
vestment,
medium
operating
costs

Low in-
vestment,
medium
operating
costs

Addition of H2O2.

2 – 5
(0.1 ng TE/m3)

Low in-
vestment, low
operating
costs

a/ Remaining emission compared to unreduced mode.

Removal of residuals; high demand of space.

Removal of residuals.

B.

24.

Thermal processes in the metallurgical industry

Specific processes in the metallurgical industry may be important remaining sources of
PCDD/F emissions. These are:

(a)

Primary iron and steel industry (e.g. blast furnaces, sinter plants, iron pelletizing);

(b)

Secondary iron and steel industry; and

(c)

Primary and secondary non-ferrous metal industry (production of copper).

35

PCDD/F emission control measures for the metallurgical industries are summarized in table 2

25.

Metal  production  and  treatment  plants  with  PCDD/F  emissions  can  meet  a  maximum
emission concentration of 0.1 ng TE/m3 (if waste gas volume flow > 5000 m3/h) using
control measures.

Table 2: Emission reduction of PCDD/F in the metallurgical industry

Management options

Sinter plants

Primary measures:

Emission 
(%)a/

level

Estimated
costs

Management
risks

-

Optimization/encapsulation of sinter conveying belts;

- Waste  gas  recirculation  e.g.  emission  optimized  sintering  (EOS)
reducing  waste  gas  flow  by  ca.  35%  (reduced  costs  of  further
secondary  measures  by  the  reduced  waste  gas  flow),  cap.  1  million
Nm3/h;

40

Secondary measures:

Not 100%
achievable

Low

Low

-

-

-

Electrostatic precipitation + molecular sieve;

Addition of limestone/activated carbon mixtures;

High-performance  scrubbers  -  existing  installation:  AIRFINE
(Voest  Alpine Stahl  Linz)  since  1993  for  600 000  Nm3/h;  second
installation planned in the Netherlands (Hoogoven) for 1998.

Medium
efficiency

Medium

High efficiency
(0.1 ng TE/m3)

Medium

Medium

High efficiency
emission
reduction to
(0.2-0.4 ng
TE/m3)

0.1 ng TE/m3
could be reached
with higher
energy demand;
no existing
installation.

Non-ferrous production (e.g. copper)

Primary measures:

-

Pre-sorting  of  scrap,  avoidance  of  feed  material  like  plastics  and
PVC-contaminated  scrap,  stripping  of  coatings  and  use  of  chlorine-
free insulating materials;

Low

Secondary measures:

-

Quenching the hot waste gases;

High efficiency

Low

Use of oxygen or of oxygen-enriched air in firing, oxygen injection in
-
the  shaft  kiln  (providing  complete  combustion  and  minimization  of  waste
gas volume);

5 - 7
(1.5-2 TE/m3)

High

Fixed  bed  reactor  or  fluidized  jet  stream  reactor  by  adsorption  with

-
activated charcoal or open-hearth coal dust;

(0.1 ng TE/m3)

High

36

Management options

-

Catalytic oxidation; and

Emission 
(%)a/

level

Estimated
costs

Management
risks

(0.1 ng TE/m3)

High

Reduction of residence time in the critical region of temperature in the

-
waste gas system.

Iron and steel production

Primary measures:

-

Cleaning of the scrap from oil prior to charging of production vessels;

Elimination of organic tramp materials such as oils, emulsions, greases,

-
paint and plastics from feedstock cleaning;

-

Lowering of the specific high waste gas volumes;

Separate  collection  and  treatment  of  emissions  from  loading  and

-
discharging;

Secondary measures:

Separate  collection  and  treatment  of  emissions  from  loading  and

-
discharging; and

Cleaning solvents
have to be used.

Low

Low

Medium

Low

Low

-

Fabric filter in combination with coke injection.

< 1

Medium

Secondary aluminium production

Primary measures:

-

-

Avoidance of halogenated material (hexachloroethane)

Avoidance  of  chlorine-containing  lubricants  (for  instance  chlorinated

paraffins); and

-
Clean-up  and  sorting  of  dirty  scrap  charges,  e.g.  by  swarf  decoating
and drying, swim-sink separation techniques and whirling stream deposition;

Secondary measures:

Low

Low

-

-

-

Single- and multi-stage fabric filter with added activation of limestone/

activated carbon in front of the filter;

< 1
(0.1 ng TE/m3)

Medium/high

Minimization  and  separate  removal  and  purification  of  differently

Medium/high

contaminated waste gas flows;

Avoidance of particulate deposition from the waste gas and promotion

Medium/ high

of rapid passing of the critical temperature range; and

Improved  pretreatment  of  aluminium  scrap  shredders  by  using  swim-

-
sink separation techniques and grading through whirling stream deposition.

Medium/ high

a/ Remaining emission compared to unreduced mode.

37

Sinter plants

26.

27.

Measurements  at  sinter  plants  in  the  iron  and  steel  industry  have  generally  shown
PCDD/F  emissions  in  the  range  of  0.4  to  4  ng  TE/m3.  A  single  measurement  at  one
plant without any control measures showed an emission concentration of 43 ng TE/m3.

Halogenated  compounds  may  result  in  the  formation  of  PCDD/F  if  they  enter  sinter
plants in the feed materials (coke breeze, salt content in the ore) and in added recycled
material (e.g. millscale, blast furnace top gas dust, filter dusts and  sludges  from waste
water  treatment).  However,  similarly  to  waste  incineration,  there  is  no  clear  link
between  the  chlorine  content  of  the  feed  materials  and  emissions  of  PCDD/F.  An
appropriate  measure  may  be  the  avoidance  of  contaminated  residual  material  and  de-
oiling or degreasing of millscale prior to its introduction into the sinter plant.

28.

The most effective PCDD/F emission reduction can be achieved using a combination of
different secondary measures, as follows:

(a) Recirculating  waste  gas  significantly  reduces  PCDD/F  emissions.  Furthermore,
the waste gas flow is reduced significantly, thereby reducing the cost of installing
any additional end-of-pipe control systems;

(b)

(c)

Installing  fabric  filters  (in  combination  with  electrostatic  precipitators  in  some
cases)  or  electrostatic  precipitators  with 
injection  of  activated
carbon/open-hearth coal/limestone mixtures into the waste gas;

the 

Scrubbing  methods  have  been  developed  which  include  pre-quenching  of  the
waste  gas,  leaching  by  high-performance  scrubbing  and  separation  by  drip
deposition. Emissions of 0.2 to 0.4 ng TE/m3 can be achieved. By adding suitable
adsorption agents like lignite coal cokes/coal slack, an emission concentration of
0.1 ng TE/m3 can be reached.

Primary and secondary production of copper

29.

Existing  plants  for  the  primary  and  secondary  production  of  copper  can  achieve  a
PCDD/F  emission  level  of  a  few  picograms  to  2  ng  TE/m3  after  flue-gas  cleaning.  A
single copper shaft furnace emitted up to 29 ng TE/m3 PCDD/F before optimization of
the aggregates. Generally, there is a wide range of PCDD/F emission values from these
plants because of the large differences in raw materials used in differing aggregates and
processes.

30.

Generally, the following measures are suitable for reducing PCDD/F emissions:

(a)

Pre-sorting scrap;

(b)

Pretreating  scrap,  for  example  stripping  of  plastic  or  PVC  coatings,  pretreating
cable scrap using only cold/mechanical methods;

38

(c) Quenching  hot  waste  gases  (providing  utilization  of  heat),  to  reduce  residence

time in the critical region of temperature in the waste gas system;

(d) Using  oxygen  or  oxygen-enriched  air  in  firing,  or  oxygen  injection  in  the  shaft
kiln (providing complete combustion and minimization of waste gas volume);

(e) Adsorption  in  a  fixed  bed  reactor  or  fluidized  jet  stream  reactor  with  activated

charcoal or open-hearth coal dust; and

(f)

Catalytic oxidation.

Production of steel

31.

32.

33.

PCDD/F  emissions  from  converter  steelworks  for  steel  production  and  from  hot  blast
cupola furnaces, electric furnaces and electric arc furnaces for the melting of cast iron
are  significantly  lower  than  0.1  ng  TE/m3.  Cold-air  furnaces  and  rotary  tube  furnaces
(melting of cast iron) have higher PCDD/F emissions.

Electric  arc  furnaces  used  in  secondary  steel  production  can  achieve  an  emission
concentration value of 0.1 ng TE/m3 if the following measures are used:

(a)

Separate collection of emissions from loading and discharging; and

(b) Use  of  a  fabric  filter  or  an  electrostatic  precipitator  in  combination  with  coke

injection.

The feedstock to electric arc furnaces often contains oils, emulsions or greases. General
primary  measures  for  PCDD/F  reduction  can  be  sorting,  de-oiling  and  de-coating  of
scraps, which may contain plastics, rubber, paints, pigments and vulcanizing additives.

Smelting plants in the secondary aluminium industry

34.

35.

PCDD/F emissions from smelting plants in the secondary aluminium industry are in the
range of approximately 0.1 to 14 ng TE/m3. These levels depend on the type of smelting
aggregates, materials used and waste gas purification techniques employed.

In  summary,  single-  and  multi-stage 
the  addition  of
limestone/activated  carbon/open-hearth  coal  in  front  of  the  filter  meet  the  emission
concentration of 0.1 ng TE/m3, with reduction efficiencies of 99%.

filters  with 

fabric 

36.

The following measures can also be considered:

(a) Minimizing  and  separately  removing  and  purifying  differently  contaminated

waste gas flows;

(b) Avoiding waste gas particle deposition;

(c) Rapidly passing the critical temperature range;

39

(d)

(e)

Improving the pre-sorting of scrap aluminium from shredders by using swim-sink
separation techniques and grading through whirling stream deposition; and

Improving  the  pre-cleaning  of  scrap  aluminium  by  swarf  decoating  and  swarf
drying.

Options (d)  and  (e)  are  important  because  it  is  unlikely  that  modern  fluxless  smelting
techniques (which  avoid halide salt  fluxes)  will be  able to handle the  low-grade  scrap
that can be used in rotary kilns.

Discussions  are  continuing  under  the  Convention  for  the  Protection  of  the  Marine
Environment  of 
the  revision  of  an  earlier
recommendation to phase out the use of hexachloroethane in the aluminium industry.

the  North-east  Atlantic  regarding 

The  melt  can  be  treated  using  state-of-the-art  technology,  for  example  with
nitrogen/chlorine mixtures in the ratio of between 9:1 and 8:2, gas injection equipment
for  fine  dispersion  and  nitrogen  pre-  and  post-flushing  and  vacuum  degreasing.  For
nitrogen/chlorine mixtures, a PCDD/F emission concentration of  about  0.03 ng TE/m3
was  measured  (as  compared  to  values  of  > 1 ng  TE/m3  for  treatment  with  chlorine
only).  Chlorine  is  required  for  the  removal  of  magnesium  and  other  undesired
components.

Combustion of fossil fuels in utility and industrial boilers

In  the  combustion  of  fossil  fuels  in  utility  and  industrial  boilers  (>50 MW  thermal
capacity), improved energy efficiency and energy conservation will result in a decline in
the  emissions  of  all  pollutants  because  of  reduced  fuel  requirements.  This  will  also
result  in  a  reduction  in  PCDD/F  emissions.  It  would  not  be  cost-effective  to  remove
chlorine from coal or oil, but in any case the trend towards gas-fired stations will help to
reduce PCDD/F emissions from this sector.

It should be noted that PCDD/F emissions could increase significantly if waste material
(sewage sludge, waste oil, rubber wastes, etc.) is added to the fuel. The combustion of
wastes  for  energy  supply  should  be  undertaken  only  in  installations  using  waste  gas
purification  systems  with  highly  efficient  PCDD/F  reduction  (described  in  section  A
above).

The application of  techniques  to reduce  emissions  of  nitrogen  oxides,  sulphur  dioxide
and  particulates  from  the  flue  gas  can  also  remove  PCDD/F  emissions.  When  using
these techniques, PCDD/F removal efficiencies will vary from plant to plant. Research
is  ongoing  to  develop  PCDD/F  removal  techniques,  but  until  such  techniques  are
available on an industrial scale, no best available technique is identified for the specific
purpose of PCDD/F removal.

Residential combustion

The contribution of residential combustion appliances to total emissions of PCDD/F is
less  significant  when  approved  fuels  are  properly  used.  In  addition,  large  regional

40

37.

38.

39.

C.

40.

41.

42.

D.

43.

44.

45.

46.

E.

47.

differences  in  emissions  can  occur  due  to  the  type  and  quality  of  fuel,  geographical
appliance density and usage.

Domestic  fireplaces  have  a  worse  burn-out  rate  for  hydrocarbons  in  fuels  and  waste
gases than large combustion installations. This is especially true if they use solid fuels
such as wood and coal, with PCDD/F emission concentrations in the range of 0.1 to 0.7
ng TE/m3.

Burning  packing  material  added  to  solid  fuels  increases  PCDD/F  emissions.  Even
though it is prohibited in some countries, the burning  of  rubbish  and packing material
may  occur  in  private  households.  Due  to  increasing  disposal  charges,  it  must  be
recognized  that  household  waste  materials  are  being  burned  in  domestic  firing
installations. The use of wood with the addition of waste packing material can lead to an
increase in PCDD/F emissions from 0.06 ng  TE/m3 (exclusively wood) to 8 ng TE/m3
(relative to 11% O2 by volume). These results have been confirmed by investigations in
several countries in which up to 114 ng TE/m3 (with respect to 13% oxygen by volume)
was  measured  in  waste  gases  from  residential  combustion  appliances  burning  waste
materials.

The emissions from residential combustion appliances can be reduced by restricting the
input  materials  to  good-quality  fuel  and  avoiding  the  burning  of  waste,  halogenated
plastics 
the
purchasers/operators of residential combustion appliances can be effective in achieving
this goal.

other  materials.  Public 

programmes 

information 

and 

for 

Firing installations for wood (<50 MW capacity)

Measurement  results  for  wood-firing  installations  indicate  that  PCDD/F  emissions
above  0.1 ng TE/m3  occur  in  waste  gases  especially  during  unfavourable  burn-out
conditions  and/or  when  the  substances  burned  have  a  higher  content  of  chlorinated
compounds than normal untreated wood. An indication of poor firing is the total carbon
concentration  in  the  waste  gas.  Correlations  have  been  found  between  CO  emissions,
burn-out  quality  and  PCDD/F  emissions.  Table  3  summarizes  some  emission
concentrations and factors for wood-firing installations.

41

Table 3: Quantity-related emission concentrations and factors for wood-firing installations

Fuel

Emission
concentration

(ng TE/m3)

Emission factor

Emission factor

(ng TE/kg)

(ng/GJ)

Natural wood (beech tree)

0.02 - 0.10

0.23 - 1.3

Natural wood chips from forests

0.07 - 0.21

0.79 - 2.6

12-70

43-140

16-50

0.02 - 0.08

0.29 - 0.9

2.7 - 14.4

26 - 173

1400-9400

114

0.03

3230

Chipboard

Urban waste wood

Residential waste

Charcoal

48.

V.

A.

The  combustion  of  urban  waste  wood  (demolition  wood)  in  moving  grates  leads  to
relatively  high  PCDD/F  emissions,  compared  to  non-waste  wood  sources.  A  primary
measure for emission reduction is to avoid the use of treated waste wood in wood-firing
installations.  Combustion  of  treated  wood  should  be  undertaken  only  in  installations
with the appropriate flue-gas cleaning to minimize PCDD/F emissions.

CONTROL TECHNIQUES FOR THE REDUCTION OF PAH EMISSIONS

Coke production

49.

During coke production, PAHs are released into the ambient air mainly:

(a) When the oven is charged through the charging holes;

(b) By leakages from the oven door, the  ascension pipes and the charging hole lids;

and

(c) During coke pushing and coke cooling.

50.

51.

52.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) concentration varies substantially between the individual sources
in a coke battery. The highest BaP concentrations are found on the top of the battery and
in the immediate vicinity of the doors.

PAH from coke production can be reduced by technically improving existing integrated
iron and steel plants. This might entail the closure and replacement of old coke batteries
and the general reduction in coke production, for instance by injecting high-value coal
in steel production.

A  PAH  reduction  strategy  for  coke  batteries  should  include  the  following  technical
measures:

42

(a) Charging the coke ovens:

-

-

-

Particulate  matter  emission  reduction  when  charging  the  coal  from  the
bunker into the charging cars;

Closed systems for coal transfer when coal pre-heating is used;

Extraction  of  filling  gases  and  subsequent  treatment,  either  by  passing  the
gases  into  the  adjacent  oven  or  by  passing  via  a  collecting  main  to  an
incinerator and a subsequent dedusting device.  In some cases the extracted
filling  gases  may  be  burned  on  the  charging  cars,  but  the  environmental
performance  and  safety  of  these  charging-car-based  systems  is  less
satisfactory.  Sufficient  suction  should  be  generated  by  steam  or  water
injection in the ascension pipes;

(b) Emissions at charging hole lids during coking operation should be avoided by:

-

-

-

-

Using charging hole lids with highly efficient sealing;

Luting the charging hole lids with clay (or  equally effective material) after
each charging operation;

Cleaning the charging hole lids and frames before closing the charging hole;

Keeping oven ceilings free from coal residuals;

(c) Ascension  pipe  lids  should  be  equipped  with  water  seals  to  avoid  gas  and  tar
emissions, and the proper operation of the seals should be maintained by regular
cleaning;

(d) Coke oven machinery for operating the coke oven doors should be equipped with
systems  for  cleaning  the  seals  and  surfaces  on  the  oven  door  frames  and  oven
doors;

(e) Coke oven doors:

-

-

-

Highly effective seals should be used (e.g. spring-loaded membrane doors);

Seals  on  the  oven  doors  and  door  frames  should  be  cleaned  thoroughly  at
every handling operation;

Doors  should  be  designed  in  a  manner  that  allows  the  installation  of
particulate matter extraction systems with connection to a dedusting device
(via a collecting main) during pushing operations;

(f)

The coke transfer machine should be equipped with an integrated hood, stationary
duct and stationary gas cleaning system (preferably a fabric filter);

43

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

(g) Low-emission  procedures  should  be  applied  for  coke  cooling,  e.g.  dry  coke
cooling. The replacement of a wet quenching process by dry coke cooling should
be preferred, so long as the generation of waste water is avoided by using a closed
circulation  system.  The  dusts  generated  when  dry  quenched  coke  is  handled
should be reduced.

A coke-making process  referred to as “non-recovery  coke-making”  emits  significantly
less PAH than the more conventional by-product recovery process. This is because the
ovens operate under negative pressure, thereby eliminating leaks to the atmosphere from
the coke oven doors. During coking, the raw coke oven gas is removed from the ovens
by a natural draught, which maintains a negative pressure in the ovens. These ovens are
not designed to recover the chemical by-products from raw coke oven gas. Instead, the
offgases  from  the  coking  process  (including  PAH)  are  burned  efficiently  at  high
temperatures  and  with  long  residence  times.  The  waste  heat  from  this  incineration  is
used to provide the energy for coking, and excess heat may be used to generate steam.
The  economics  of  this  type  of  coking  operation  may  require  a  cogeneration  unit  to
produce  electricity  from  the  excess  steam.  Currently  there  is  only  one  non-recovery
coke  plant  operating  in  the  United  States,  and  one  is  in  operation  in  Australia.  The
process is basically a horizontal sole-flue non-recovery coke oven with an incineration
chamber  adjoining two ovens.  The process provides for  alternate  charging  and  coking
schedules between the two ovens. Thus, one oven is always providing the incineration
chamber  with  coke  gases.  The  coke  gas  combustion  in  the  incineration  chamber
provides  the  necessary  heat  source.  The  incineration  chamber  design  provides  the
necessary  dwell  time  (approximately  1  second)  and  high  temperatures  (minimum  of
900°C).

An effective monitoring programme for leakages from coke oven door seals, ascension
pipes  and  charging  hole  lids  should  be  operated.  This  implies  the  monitoring  and
recording of leakages and immediate repair or maintenance. A significant reduction of
diffuse emissions can thus be achieved.

Retrofitting  existing  coke  batteries  to  facilitate  condensation  of  flue  gases  from  all
sources (with heat recovery) results in a PAH reduction of 86% to more than 90% in air
(without  regard  to  waste  water  treatment).  Investment  costs  can  be  amortized  in  five
years, taking into account recovered energy, heated water,  gas for synthesis and saved
cooling water.

Increasing coke oven volumes results in a decrease in the total number of ovens, oven
door openings (amount of pushed ovens per day), number of seals in a coke battery and
consequently  PAH  emissions.  Productivity  increases  in  the  same  way  by  decreasing
operating and personnel costs.

Dry  coke  cooling  systems  require  a  higher  investment  cost  than  wet  methods.  Higher
operating costs can be compensated for by heat recovery in a process of pre-heating the
coke.  The  energy  efficiency  of  a  combined  dry  coke  cooling/coal  pre-heating  system
rises from 38 to 65%. Coal pre-heating boosts productivity by 30%. This can be raised
to 40% because the coking process is more homogeneous.

44

58.

All tanks and installations for the storage and treatment of coal tar and coal tar products
must  be  equipped  with  an  efficient  vapour  recovery  return  and/or  vapour  destruction
system.  The  operating  costs  of  vapour  destruction  systems  can  be  reduced  in  an
autothermal  after-burning  mode  if  the  concentration  of  the  carbon  compounds  in  the
waste is high enough.

59.

Table 4 summarizes PAH emission reduction measures in coke production plants.

45

Table 4: PAH emission control for coke production

Management options

Emission level
(%)a/

Estimated costs

Management risks

Retrofitting  of  old  plants  with  condensation  of
emitted  flue  gases  from  all  sources  includes  the
following measures:

Total < 10
(without waste
water)

High

Emissions  to  waste  water
by  wet  quenching  are  very
high.  This  method  should
be applied only if the water
is reused in a closed cycle.

-

-

-

-

Evacuation  and  after-burning  of  the  filling
gases during charging of ovens or passing the
gases into the adjacent oven as far as possible;

Emissions  at  charging  hole  lids  should  be
avoided as far as possible, e.g. by special hole
lid  construction  and  highly  effective  sealing
methods.  Coke  oven  doors  with  highly
effective sealings should be used. Cleaning of
charging  hole  lids  and  frames  before  closing
the charging hole;

(Amortization of investment
costs, taking into account
energy recovery, heated
water, gas for synthesis and
saved cooling water, may be
5 years.)

5

< 5

Waste  gases  from  pushing  operations  should
be collected and fed to a dedusting device;

< 5

Quenching  during  coke  cooling  by  wet
methods  only  if  properly  applied  without
waste water.

Low emission procedures for coke cooling, e.g. dry
coke cooling.

No emissions
into water

Higher investment costs than
for  wet  cooling  (but  lower
costs  by  preheating  of  coke
and use of waste heat.)

Increasing  the  use  of  high-volume  ovens  to  lower
the number of openings and the surface of sealing
areas.

Considerable

Investment about 10%
higher than conventional
plants.

In  most  cases  total  retro-
fitting or the installation of
a new cokery is needed.

a/ Remaining emission compared to unreduced mode.

B.

60.

61.

Anode production

PAH  emissions  from  anode  production  have  to  be  dealt  with  in  a  similar  fashion  as
those from coke production.

The  following  secondary  measures  for  emission  reduction  of  PAH-contaminated  dust
are used:

(a)

Electrostatic tar precipitation;

46

(b) Combination of a conventional electrostatic tar filter with a wet electrostatic filter

as a more efficient technical measure;

(c)

Thermal after-burning of the waste gases; and

(d) Dry scrubbing with limestone/petroleum coke or aluminum oxide (Al2O3).

62.

The  operating  costs  in  thermal  after-burning  can  be  reduced  in  an  autothermal  after-
burning  mode  if  the  concentration  of  carbon  compounds  in  the  waste  gas  is  high
enough.

Table 5 summarizes PAH emission control measures for anode production.

Table 5: PAH emission control for anode production

Management options

Emission level
(%)a/

Estimated
costs

Management risks

Modernization  of  old  plants  by  reducing
diffuse emissions with the following measures:

3-10

High

-

-

-

Reduction of leakages;

Installation  of  flexible  sealants  at  the  oven
doors;

Evacuation  of  filling  gases  and  subsequent
treatment,  either  by  passing  the  gases  into
the adjacent oven or by passing the gases via
a  collecting  main  to  an  incinerator  and  a
subsequent dedusting device on the ground;

- Operating  and  coke  oven  cooling  systems;

and

-

Evacuation  and  purification  of  particulate
emissions from coke.

Established technologies for anode production
in the Netherlands:

45-50

- New  kiln  with  dry 
limestone/petroleum 
aluminium);

scrubber 

(with
or  with

cokes 

Implemented  in  the  Netherlands  in  1990.
Scrubbing with limestone or petroleum cokes
is  effective 
reducing  PAH;  with
aluminium not known.

for 

-

Effluent recycling in paste unit.

BAT:

-

-

Electrostatic dust precipitation; and

Thermal after-burning.

2-5

15

Regular cleaning of tar is needed

Lower
operating costs
in an auto-
thermal mode

Operating  in  autothermal  mode  only  if  the
concentration  of  PAH  in  the  waste  gas  is
high.

a/ Remaining emission compared to unreduced mode.

47

C.

63.

64.

65.

Aluminium industry

Aluminium  is  produced  from  aluminium  oxide  (Al2O3)  by  electrolysis  in  pots  (cells)
electrically  connected  in  series.  Pots  are  classified  as  prebake  or  Soederberg  pots,
according to the type of the anode.

Prebake  pots  have  anodes  consisting  of  calcined  (baked)  carbon  blocks,  which  are
replaced  after  partial  consumption.  Soederberg  anodes  are  baked  in  the  cell,  with  a
mixture of petroleum coke and coal tar pitch acting as a binder.

Very high PAH emissions are released from the Soederberg process. Primary abatement
measures  include  modernization  of  existing  plants  and  optimization  of  the  processes,
which  could  reduce  PAH  emissions  by  70-90%.  An  emission  level  of  0.015  kg
B(a)P/tonne  of  Al  could  be  reached.  Replacing  the  existing  Soederberg  cells  by
prebaked  ones  would  require  major  reconstruction  of  the  existing  process,  but  would
nearly  eliminate  the  PAH  emissions.  The  capital  costs  of  such  replacements  are  very
high.

66.

Table 6 summarizes PAH emission control measures for aluminium production.

Table 6: PAH emission control for aluminium production using the Soederberg process

Management options

Replacement of Soederberg electrodes
by:

-

-

Prebaked electrodes (avoidance of
pitch binders);

Inert anodes.

Emission level
(%)a/

3-30

Closed prebake systems with point
feeding of alumina and efficient process
control, hoods covering the entire pot and
allowing efficient collection of air
pollutants.

1-5

Soederberg pot with vertical contact bolts
and waste gas collection systems.

> 10

Sumitomo technology
(anode briquettes for VSS process).

Gas cleaning:

Estimated costs

Management risks

Higher costs for
electrodes about
US$ 800 million

Soederberg  electrodes  are  cheaper  than
prebaked  ones,  because  no  anode  baking
plant  is  needed.  Research  is  in  progress,
but  expectations  are 
low.  Efficient
operation  and  monitoring  of  emission  are
essential  parts  of  emission  control.  Poor
performance 
significant
diffuse emissions.

could 

cause 

Diffuse  emissions  occur  during  feeding,
crust  breaking  and  lifting  of  iron  contact
bolts to a higher position.

Retrofit of Soederberg
technology by
encapsulation and
modified feeding
point: US$ 50,000 -
10,000 per furnace

Low - medium

-

Electrostatic tar filters;

2-5

Low

High  rate  of  sparking  and  electrical
arcing;Wet  gas-cleaning  generates  waste
water.

48

-

-

Combination of conventional
electrostatic tar filters with
electrostatic wet gas cleaning;

Thermal after-burning.

> 1

Medium

Pitch use with higher melting point (HSS
+ VSS).

High

Use of dry scrubbing in existing HSS +
VSS plants.

Medium
Low - medium

Medium - high

a/ Remaining emission compared to unreduced mode.

D. Residential combustion

67.

68.

69.

PAH  emissions  from  residential  combustion  can  be  detected  from  stoves  or  open
fireplaces  especially  when  wood  or  coal  is  used.  Households  could  be  a  significant
source  of  PAH  emissions.  This  is  the  result  of  the  use  of  fireplaces  and  small  firing
installations  burning  solid  fuels  in  households.  In  some  countries  the  usual  fuel  for
stoves is coal. Coal-burning stoves emit less PAH than wood-burning ones, because of
their higher combustion temperatures and more consistent fuel quality.

Furthermore, combustion systems with optimized operation characteristics (e.g. burning
rate)  effectively  control  PAH  emissions  from  residential  combustion.  Optimized
combustion  conditions  include  optimized  combustion  chamber  design  and  optimized
supply of air. There are several techniques which optimize combustion conditions and
reduce  emissions.  There  is  a  significant  difference  in  emissions  between  different
techniques.  A  modern  wood-fired  boiler  with  a  water  accumulation  tank,  representing
BAT, reduces the emission by more than 90% compared to an outdated boiler without a
water accumulation tank. A modern boiler has three different zones: a fireplace for the
gasification  of  wood,  a  gas  combustion  zone  with  ceramics  or  other  material  which
allow temperatures of some 1000°C, and a convection zone. The convection part where
the  water  absorbs  the  heat  should  be  sufficiently  long  and  effective  so  that  the  gas
temperature  can  be  reduced  from  1000°C  to  250°C  or  less.  There  are  also  several
techniques  to  supplement  old  and  outdated  boilers,  for  example  with  water
accumulation tanks, ceramic inserts and pellet burners.

Optimized burning rates are accompanied by low emissions of carbon monoxide (CO),
total hydrocarbons (THC) and PAHs.  Setting  limits (type  approval  regulations) on the
emission of CO and THCs also affects the emission of PAHs. Low emission of CO and
THCs  results  in  low  emission  of  PAHs.  Since  measuring  PAH  is  far  more  expensive
than  measuring  CO,  it  is  more  cost-effective  to  set  a  limit  value  for  CO  and  THCs.
Work is continuing on a proposal for a CEN standard for coal- and wood-fired boilers
up to 300 kW (see table 7).

49

Table 7: Draft CEN standards in 1997

Class

3

2

1

3

2

1

3

2

1

Effect
(kW)

Manual

< 50

50-150

5000

2500

>150-300

1200

Automatic

< 50

50-150

3000

2500

CO

8000

5000

2000

5000

4500

25000

12500

12500

15000

12500

>150-300

1200
12500
Note: Emission levels in mg/m3 at 10% O2.

2000

THC

Particulates

150

100

100

100

80

80

300

200

200

200

150

150

2000

1500

1500

1750

1250

1250

150/125

180/150

200/180

150/125

180/150

200/180

150/125

180/150

200/180

150/125

180/150

200/180

150/125

180/150

200/180

150/125

180/150

200/180

70.

Emissions from residential wood combustion stoves can be reduced:

(a)

For existing stoves,  by public  information  and  awareness  programmes  regarding
proper  stove  operation,  the  use  of  untreated  wood  only,  fuel  preparation
procedures and the correct seasoning of wood for moisture content; and

(b)

For new stoves, by the application of product standards as described in the draft
CEN standard (and equivalent product standards in the United States and Canada).

71.

More  general  measures  for  PAH  emission  reduction  are  those  related  to  the
development  of  centralized  systems  for  households  and  energy  conservation  such  as
improved thermal insulation to reduce energy consumption.

72.

Information is summarized in table 8.

50

Table 8: PAH emission control for residential combustion

Management options

Emission level
(%)a/

Estimated
costs

Management risks

Use of dried coal and wood (dried wood is wood
stored for at least 18-24 months).

High
effectiveness

Use of dried coal.

High
effectiveness

Design  of  heating  systems  for  solid  fuels  to
provide optimized complete burning conditions:

55

Medium

Negotiations have to be held with stove
manufacturers to introduce an approval
scheme for stoves.

-

-

-

Gasification zone;

Combustion with ceramics;

Effective convection zone.

Water accumulation tank.

Technical instructions for efficient operation.

30 - 40

Low

Might  be  achieved  also  by  vigorous
combined  with
public 
practical  instructions  and  stove  type
regulation.

education, 

Public  information  programme  concerning  the
use of wood-burning stoves.

a/ Remaining emission compared to unreduced mode.

E.

73.

74.

75.

Wood preservation installations

Wood  preservation  with  PAH-containing  coal-tar  products  may  be  a  major  source  of
PAH emissions to the air. Emissions may occur during the impregnation process itself
as well as during storage, handling and use of the impregnated wood in the open air.

The most widely used PAH-containing coal-tar products are carbolineum and creosote.
Both are coal tar distillates containing PAHs for the protection of timber (wood) against
biological attack.

PAH  emissions  from  wood  preservation,  installations  and  storage  facilities  may  be
reduced  using  several  approaches,  implemented  either  separately  or  in  combination,
such as:

(a) Requirements on storage conditions to prevent pollution of soil and surface water
by  leached  PAH  and  contaminated  rainwater  (e.g.  storage  sites  impermeable  to
rainwater, roof cover,  reuse of contaminated water for the impregnation process,
quality demands for the material produced);

(b) Measures  to  reduce  atmospheric  emissions  at  impregnation  plants  (e.g.  the  hot
wood  should  be  cooled  down  from  90°C  to  30°C  at  least  before  transport  to

51

storage sites. However, an alternative method using pressure steam under vacuum
conditions to impregnate the wood with creosote should be highlighted as BAT);

(c)

The  optimum  loading  of  wood  preservative,  which  gives  adequate  protection  to
the treated wood product in situ, can be regarded as a BAT as this will reduce the
demand for replacements, thereby reducing emissions from the wood preservation
installations;

(d) Using  wood  preservation  products  with  a  lower  content  of  those  PAHs  that  are

POPs:

-

-

Possibly using modified creosote which is taken to be a distillation fraction
boiling between 270°C and 355°C, which reduces both the emissions of the
more volatile PAHs and the heavier, more toxic PAHs;

Discouraging the use of carbolineum would also reduce PAH emissions;

(e)

Evaluating  and  then  using,  as  appropriate,  alternatives,  such  as  those  in  table  9,
that minimize reliance on PAH-based products.

76.

Burning  of  impregnated  wood  gives  rise  to  PAH  emissions  and  other  harmful
substances. If burning does take place, it should be done in installations with adequate
abatement techniques.

Table 9: Possible alternatives to wood preservation involving PAH-based products

Management options

Management risks

Use of alternative materials for application in construction:

Other environmental problems have to be evaluated  such
as:

-

-

Availability of suitably produced wood;

Emissions caused by the production and disposal of
plastics, especially PVC.

-

-

-

-

-

Sustainably produced hardwood (riverbanks, fences, gates);

Plastics (horticulture posts);

Concrete (railway sleepers);

Replacement  of  artificial  constructions  by  natural  ones
(such as riverbanks, fences, etc.);

Use of untreated wood.

There  are  several  alternative  wood-preserving  techniques  in
development which do not include impregnation with PAH-based
products.

52

Annex VI

TIMESCALES FOR THE APPLICATION OF LIMIT VALUES AND BEST AVAILABLE
TECHNIQUES TO NEW AND EXISTING STATIONARY SOURCES

The timescales for the application of limit values and best available techniques are:

(a)

(b)

For  new  stationary  sources:  two  years  after  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  the  present
Protocol;

For  existing  stationary  sources:  eight  years  after  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  the
present  Protocol.  If  necessary,  this  period  may  be  extended  for  specific  existing
stationary sources in accordance with the amortization period provided for by national
legislation.

53

Annex VII

RECOMMENDED CONTROL MEASURES FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS OF
PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM MOBILE SOURCES

Relevant definitions are provided in annex III to the present Protocol.

ACHIEVABLE  EMISSION  LEVELS  FOR  NEW  VEHICLES  AND  FUEL
PARAMETERS

Achievable emission levels for new vehicles

Diesel-fuelled passenger cars

1.

I.

A.

2.

Limit values

Mass of hydrocarbons

Mass of

and NOx

0.56 g/km

0.3 g/km

particulates

0.05 g/km

0.025 g/km

Year

Reference mass

01.1.2000

01.1.2005
(indicative)

All

All

3.

Heavy-duty vehicles

Year/test cycle

Mass of hydrocarbons

Mass of particulates

Limit values

01.1.2000/ESC cycle

01.1.2000/ETC cycle

4.

Off-road engines

0.66 g/kWh

0.85 g/kWh

0.1 g/kWh

0.16 g/kWh

Step 1 (reference: ECE regulation No.96) */

Net power (P) (kW)

Mass of hydrocarbons

Mass of particulates

P ≥ 130

75 ≤ P < 130

37 ≤ P < 75

0.54 g/kWh

0.70 g/kWh

0.85 g/kWh

1.3 g/kWh

1.3 g/kWh

1.3 g/kWh

54

*/“Uniform  provisions  concerning  the  approval  of  compression  ignition  (C.I.)  engines  to  be
installed  in  agricultural  and  forestry  tractors  with  regard  to  the  emissions  of  pollutants  by  the
engine.”  The  regulation  came  into  force  on  15  December  1995  and  its  amendment  came  into
force on 5 March 1997.

55

Step 2

Net power (P) (kW)

Mass of hydrocarbons

Mass of particulates

1.5 g/kWh

1.3 g/kWh

1.0 g/kWh

1.0 g/kWh

0.8 g/kWh

0.4 g/kWh

0.3 g/kWh

0.2 g/kWh

Limits

Minimum value

Maximum value

(2000/2005)*/

(2000/2005)*/

Test method

51/N.S.

-

ISO 5165

-

-

-

-

845/N.S.

ISO 3675

360/N.S.

ISO 3405

11/N.S.

350/50 **/

prIP 391

ISO 14956

 0 ≤ P < 18

18 ≤ P < 37

37 ≤ P < 75

75 ≤ P < 130

130 ≤ P < 560

B.

5.

Fuel parameters

Diesel fuel

Parameter

Cetane number

Density at 15°C

Unit

kg/m3

°C

Evaporated 95%

mass %

PAH

Sulphur

ppm

N.S.: Not specified.

*/

1 January of year specified.

**/

Indicative value.

II.

6.

RESTRICTION  OF  HALOGENATED  SCAVENGERS,  ADDITIVES  IN  FUELS
AND LUBRICANTS

In  some  countries,  1,2-dibromomethane  in  combination  with  1,2-dichloromethane  is
used  as  a  scavenger  in  leaded  petrol.  Moreover,  PCDD/F  are  formed  during  the
combustion process in the engine. The application of three-way catalytic converters for
cars  will  require  the  use  of  unleaded  fuel.  The  addition  of  scavengers  and  other

56

halogenated compounds to petrol and other fuels and to lubricants should be avoided as
far as possible.

7.

Table 1 summarizes measures for PCDD/F emission control from the exhaust from road
transport motor vehicles.

Table 1: PCDD/F emission control for the exhaust from road transport motor vehicles

Management options

Management risks

Avoiding adding halogenated compounds to fuels

-

-

1,2-dichloromethane

1,2-dichloromethane  and  corresponding  bromo
compounds  as  scavengers  in  leaded  fuels  for
spark ignition engines

(Bromo  compounds  may  lead  to  the  formation  of
brominated dioxins or furans.)

Avoiding halogenated additives in fuels and lubricants.

Halogenated 
scavengers  will  be
phased  out  as  the  market  for  leaded
the
petrol 
of 
increasing 
closed-loop
three-way  catalytic  converters  with
spark ignition engines.

shrinks 
use 

because 
of 

III.

CONTROL  MEASURES  FOR  EMISSIONS  OF  POPS  FROM  MOBILE
SOURCES

A.

8.

9.

B.

10.

11.

POP emissions from motor vehicles

POP emissions from motor vehicles occur as particle-bound PAHs emitted from diesel-
fuelled vehicles. To a minor extent PAHs are also emitted by petrol-fuelled vehicles.

Lubrication oil and fuels may contain halogenated compounds as a result of additives or
the production process. These compounds may be transformed during combustion into
PCDD/F and subsequently emitted with the exhaust gases.

Inspection and maintenance

For diesel-fuelled mobile sources, the effectiveness of the control of emissions of PAHs
may  be  ensured  through  programmes  to  test  the  mobile  sources  periodically  for
particulate emissions, opacity during free acceleration, or equivalent methods.

For petrol-fuelled mobile sources, the effectiveness of the control of emissions of PAHs
(in addition to other exhaust components) may be ensured through programmes to test
periodically the fuel metering and the efficiency of the catalytic converter.

57

C.

Techniques to control PAH emissions from diesel- and petrol-fuelled motor vehicles

1. General aspects of control technologies

12.

It is important to ensure that vehicles are designed to meet emission standards while in
service.  This  can  be  done  by  ensuring  conformity  of  production,  lifetime  durability,
warranty of emission-control components, and recall of defective vehicles. For vehicles
in  use,  continued  emission  control  performance  can  be  ensured  by  an  effective
inspection and maintenance programme.

2. Technical measures for emission control

13.

The following measures to control PAH emissions are important:

(a)

Fuel-quality  specifications  and  engine  modifications  to  control  emissions  before
they are formed (primary measures); and

(b) Addition  of  exhaust  treatment  systems,  e.g.  oxidizing  catalysts  or  particle  traps

1)

14.

15.

16.

17.

(secondary measures).

Diesel engines

Diesel-fuel  modification  can  yield  two  benefits:  a  lower  sulphur  content  reduces
emissions of particles and increases the conversion efficiency of oxidizing catalysts, and
the reduction in di- and tri-aromatic compounds reduces the formation and emission of
PAHs.

A  primary  measure  to  reduce  emissions  is  to  modify  the  engine  to  achieve  more
complete  combustion.  Many  different  modifications  are  in  use.  In  general,  vehicle
exhaust  composition  is  influenced  by  changes  in  combustion  chamber  design  and  by
higher  fuel  injection  pressures.  At  present,  most  diesel  engines  rely  on  mechanical
engine control systems. Newer engines increasingly use computerized electronic control
systems  with  greater potential flexibility  in  controlling  emissions.  Another  technology
to control emissions is the combined technology of turbocharging and intercooling. This
system  is  successful  in  reducing  NOx  as  well  as  increasing  fuel  economy  and  power
output.  For  heavy-  and  light-duty  engines  the  use  of  intake  manifold  tuning  is  also  a
possibility.

Controlling the lubricating oil is important to reduce  particulate  matter  (PM),  as 10 to
50% of particulate matter is formed from engine oil. Oil consumption can be reduced by
improved engine manufacturing specifications and improved engine seals.

Secondary measures to control emissions are additions of exhaust treatment systems. In
general,  for  diesel  engines  the  use  of  an  oxidizing  catalyst  in  combination  with  a
particulate filter has been shown to be effective in reducing PAH emissions. A particle
trap oxidizer is being evaluated. It is located in the exhaust system to trap PM and can
provide some regeneration of the filter by burning the collected PM, through electrical

58

heating of the system or some other means of regeneration. For proper regeneration of
passive system traps during normal operation, a burner-assisted regeneration system or
the use of additives is required.

Petrol engines

PAH-reduction measures for petrol-fuelled engines are primarily based on the use of a
closed-loop  three-way  catalytic  converter,  which  reduces  PAHs  as  part  of  the  HC
emission reductions.

Improved  cold  start  behaviour  reduces  organic  emissions  in  general  and  PAHs  in
particular (for instance start-up catalysts, improved fuel evaporation/atomization, heated
catalysts).

Table  2  summarizes  measures  for  PAH  emission  control  from  the  exhaust  from  road
transport motor vehicles.

2)

18.

19.

20.

Table 2: PAH emission control for the exhaust from road transport motor vehicles

Management options

Emission level (%)

Management risks

Spark ignition engines:

Availability of unleaded petrol.

-

-

Closed-loop three-way catalytic converter,

Catalysts for reducing cold start emissions.

Fuel for spark ignition engines:

-

-

Reduction of aromatics,

Reduction of sulphur.

Diesel engines:

-

-

Oxidizing catalyst,

Trap oxidizer/particulate filter.

Diesel fuel modification:

-
emissions.

Reduction  of  sulphur  to  reduce  particulate

10-20

5-15

20-70

Commercially  available  in  some
countries.

Availability of refinery capacity.

Availability of refinery capacity.

Improvement of diesel engine specifications:

Existing technologies.

-

-

-

Electronic 
injection 
adjustment and high-pressure fuel injection,

system, 

control 

Turbocharging and intercooling,

Exhaust gas recirculation.

rate

59

Annex VIII

MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCE CATEGORIES

I.

INTRODUCTION

Installations or parts of installations for research, development and the testing of new products
are not covered by this list. A more complete description of the categories may be found in
annex V.

II.

LIST OF CATEGORIES

Category Description of the category

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Incineration, including co-incineration, of municipal, hazardous or medical waste,
or of sewage sludge.

Sinter plants.

Primary and secondary production of copper.

Production of steel.

Smelting plants in the secondary aluminium industry.

Combustion of fossil fuels in utility and industrial boilers with a thermal capacity
above 50 MWth.

Residential combustion.

Firing installations for wood with a thermal capacity below 50 MWth.

Coke production.

Anode production.

Aluminium production using the Soederberg process.

Wood preservation installations, except for a Party for which this category does not
make a significant contribution to its total emissions of PAH (as defined in annex
III).

60