Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92003E1818

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1818/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Particulates.** 
  
*Official Journal 051 E , 26/02/2004 P. 0144 - 0145*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1818/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 June 2003)

Subject: Particulates

Will the Commission state whether there is a European framework for the assessment of air pollution near to roads, and if so what it is? Will it further describe the principal limits for the substances regarded as most damaging to health? What is the process of testing and assessment of compliance with such limits? What plans if any does the Commission have to revise such limits in the light of recent scientific research?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 2003)

The current framework for assessing air pollution is the Framework Directive 96/62/EC (Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management(1)), which provides for the monitoring of a range of air pollutants and foresees the adoption of limit values. Limit values have been adopted for a range of key pollutants (Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air(2), and Directive 2000/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air(3)); together with a target value for ozone (Directive 2002/3/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air(4)). A further Directive is foreseen covering the remaining pollutants listed in the Framework Directive (polyaromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals). All limit and target values apply everywhere in the ambient air, including road-sides. Each Directive contains provisions relating to the quality of monitoring systems, and reporting procedures to verify compliance with the limit values. The Directives are being reviewed in the context of the Clean Air for Europe programme, which will lead to a thematic strategy on air pollution as foreseen in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme.

Further information concerning the Community's air quality policy, both existing legislation and development of further policy, can be found on the Europa web-site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/).

(1) OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.

(2) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999.

(3) OJ L 313, 13.12.2000.

(4) OJ L 67, 9.3.2002.

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