CELEX: 51981PC0558
Language: en
Date: 1981-10-08
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the consolidation of precautionary measures concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (81) 558
Vol. 1981/0171
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                           COM(81)558 final
                                           Brussels . 8 October 1981
                           Proposal for a
                          COUNCIL DECISION
           on the consolidation of precautionary ^measures
           concerning chlorof luorocarbons in the environment
               ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
 C0M(81 ) 558 final
 ---pagebreak---                                                       Cow-1
                           EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
The emission of chlorof luorocarbons ( CFCs ) into the atmosphere is a
potential source of disturbance to the atmosphere 's equilibrium . T ' is
disturbance of the ozone layer and the effects on man and envi ronfne
it can engende^ are cause for concern at international level , both
among public authorities and in the economic circles involved .
                                                                        ,
 Community policy in this area has so far been to seek a balance
 between the need to undertake preventive action in order to avoid
 the deleterious effects predicted by mathematical models and the -■
 impact on industry and employment of reducing the use of CFCs .
 The concern of the Community led first of all to Council Resolution-
 of 30 May 1978 ( 1 ) concerning          the limitation of the production
 capacity of CFCs 11 and 12 , the intensification of research into
 alternative products and alternative methods of application , and
 the elimination of discharge in all sectors .
 Council Decision of 26 March 1980 ( 2 ) stipulated that the production
 capacity of CFCs 11 and 12 should not be increased in any Member
 State and that by 31 December 1981 there should be a reduction of at
 least 30 % compared with 1976 levels of the use of the CFCs in
 aerosols .
                                                . £
 ( 1 ) 0J C 133 , 7.6.1978
 ( 2 ) Decision 80 / 372 / EEC - 0J L 90, 3.4.1980
 ---pagebreak--- Article 2 of that Decision provided for a re-examination during the
fijrst half of 1980 of the scientific and economic data available . To
this end , the Commission forwarded a communication to the Council ( 3 )
on 16 June 1980 .
                         •     /
On 26 May 1981 the Commission sent to the Council a second Communication ( 4 )
concerning chlorof luorocarbons in the erivifonment , containing information
and basis for evaluation for the pursuit of Community policy .         -
That Communication reviewed the available scientific and economic data
and concluded that the measures to be taken at Community level with regard to
CFCs should be as follows :
a ) Maintenance and consolidation of precautionary measures adopted on       -
     26 March 1980 .
                         .                      .                        «
b ) Improvement in the collection of scientific , technical and economic data
     as a basis for a periodic review of Community policy .
c ) Engagement in projects , especially with the industry concerned , designed
     to decrease CFC emission in the sectors other than the filling of
     aerosol containers .
                                                      %
d ) Proposal, of,' and support "for , suitable measures at international level .
The Ministers of the Environment meeting in the Council on 11 June 1981
debated and took note of this Communication and acknowledged the Cbmmission 's
intention
- to establish suitable procedures and mechanisms for an exchange of
    scientific , technical , socioeconomic and statistical information, and
( 3 ) COM ( 80) 339 , 16.6.1980
( 4) COM ( 81 ) 261 , 26.5.1981
 ---pagebreak--- - to undertake action in the sectors of foam plastics , refrigeration and
  solvents designed to reduce the emission of CFCs ,
and recommended close collaboration between the Member States and the
Commission on these points .
In addition , the Council instructed the Commission to slibmit at the
earliest a proposal for a Council Decision on preventive and precautionary
measures to be applied by the Member States after 31 December 1981 , which
should include :
I the reaffirmation of the zero growth of production capacity of CFC 11
   and 12 on the basis of a precise definition ,
1 the consolidation of the reduction already achieved in the use of CFC 11
   and 12 in the filling of aerosols ,
I the possibility to proceed with a greater reduction in the aerosol sector
I the preparation of measures for the reduction of CFC emissions in the
   sectors other than aerosols . .
Finally , the Council invited the Commission to submit a proposal for a
Council Decision for authorising the Commission to participate on behalf
of the Community in the negotiations for a global framework Convention on
the protection of the ozone layer . The present draft Decision does not
include such a provision, sirice this will be the subject of a separate
proposal to the Council .
 ---pagebreak--- Contents of the draft Council Decision
Article 1
With this article the provisions of the Council Decision 80 / 372 / EEC
are maintained : the zero growth of the production capacity of CFC 11
and 12 will now be applied on the basis of a precise and harmonized
definition . A definite Community reference figure is /given in the Annex
Article 2
This article intends to maintain and consolidate the precautionary
                         »
measures in the use of CFC 11 and 12 in the filling of aerosol cans ,
and it requires that there will be no increase beyond the 1981 levels
of use .
These levels are stipulated to be at least 30 % lower than the 1976
levels of use . That was the minimum reduction provisioned by the
Council Decision of 26 March 1980 to be achieved by the end of 1981 .
At this time it is expected that the reduction achieved by the end of -
1981 by the Community as a whole will exceed this minimum .
Article 3
The aim of paragraph 1 of this article is to facilitate the periodic
                  *
review of Community policy through the periodical collection of
statistical data by the Commission .
Paragraph 2 provides for an action program for the reduction of
emissions in the sectors of foam plastics , refrigeration and solvents .
The study of recent data indicates that the use of CFCs is increasing
rapidly in these sectors .
 ---pagebreak---                                s
Article 4
This article provides for the review of the situation in the second
half of 1983 by taking into account the newly available scientific
and economic data , so that the Council may act by 30 June 1984 , if
necessary .        -                        *
Consultations
Given that this proposition is based on Article 235 of the EEC Treaty
the European Parliament must be consulted . The consultation of the
Economic and Social Committee is suitable .
 ---pagebreak--- GSA1                                                 *%
                        PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
         on the consolidation of precautionary measures
        concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,          /
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community , and in particular Article 235 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social ^ Committee ,
Whereas Council Decision 80 / 372 / EEC of 26 March 1980 concerning
chlorofluorocarbons               in the environment ( 1 ) provided for
zero growth in production capacity and a reduction in the use of
aerosols containing chlorofluorocarbons CFC 11 and CFC 12 ; whereas
                             for
that Decision provided / a re-examination of the measures taken in
the light of all the available scientific and economic data ;
Whereas that re-examination has shown that it is necessary for
the Community to continue to pursue a preventive policy ; whereas
the precautionary measures already taken need to be maintained
and consolidated :
 ( î ) OJ L 90 / 3.4.1980, p. 45
 ---pagebreak---                            - 2 -
Whereas the provisions laid down in Article 1 ( 1 ) of Decision
80/372/EEC should be applied on the basis of a precise and harmo­
nized definition of production capacity ; whereas on the basis
of that definition the 1980 total production capacity has been
compiled for the Community as a whole ;
Whereas reductions in the use of CFCs in aerosols within Member -
States beyond the minimum required by Decision 80/372/EEC are
expected to be achieved ; whereas , as a consolidation of pre­
cautionary measures it is appropriate not to increase the use of
CFC 11 and CFC 12 in aerosols beyond the actual 1981 levels;
Whereas in order to establish a basis for periodic reviews of
Community policy the Commission should collect and collate
appropriate statistical information on the production and use of
CFCs ;
Whereas as a precautionary measure the emissions of CFCs in the
sectors of foam plastics , refrigeration and solvents should be
limited ; whereas to this end appropriate action should be under­
taken ;             .                    -
Whereas during the second half of 1983 the measures to be taken
should be re-examined in the light of the scientific and economic
data available and such further measures as may prove necessary
in the light of this re-examination should be adopted as soon as >
possible and in any event pot later than 30 June 1984 ;
                      • f
Whereas , , since the specific powers of action required to adopt
this Decision have not been provided for in the Treaty , it is
necessary to invoke Article 235 thereof ,
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 3 -
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
                                  Article 1
Meirber States shall cake all appropriate measures to ensure that the
provisions laid down in Article 1 ( 1 ) of                Decision
80/372/EEC     are  applied on the basis of the definition of the
production capacity and the reference figure given in the Annex .
                                 Article 2
Without prejudice to Article 1 ( 2 ) of           N. Decision 80/372/EEC ,
Meirber States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that
industries situated in their territories do not increase , after
31 Decenber 1981 , the use of chlorofluorocarbons CFC 11 (CCl^F) and
CFC 12 (CCI2F2 ) in the filling of aerosol cans in comparison with the total use
for that purpose in 1981 . "This reference level shaLl be at least 30% below the
the 1976 level .
»                                Article 3
1. Member States shall take all appropriate measures to facilitate
    the periodic 1 collection by the Commission of the appropriate statistical
    information on the production and use of CFCs .
2 . Menber States shall cooperate with the Commission in actions aimed to
    reduce CFC losses and to develop the best practicable technologies to
    limit emissions in the sectors of foam plastics , refrigeration and
    solvents .
 ---pagebreak---             .        - ftgiH '                         1 i' •' * '                 '     e.                                                                                                                                    - ■                         ' -■ .           ' '•            . •'
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                        / pursuance of                                                                                                   Decision 80/372 /EEC and th.rs Decision ■
                           shall be re-examined in the light of the scientific and economic
        .                  data available . To this end , -Member States shall ,                                                                                                                                                                sub                  ^            to
                        1 considerations of commercial confidentiality , provide the Co. . is-'C^:;
                           slon with the results of any study or research available to t TU .
          '
          »     . -V       The Councils shall adopt * as soon es possible and in any . event not                                                                                                                                                                                                          j
                           later than , 30                                                       3une"'1984yon a propedalji from the Commission , ; such ^ ;
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 ---pagebreak--- GSA5
                                     ANNEX
   DEFINITION OF PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND REFERENCE FIGURE
                    ■            111    "   ' 1 1 ■ !"■■■■ I ■     ■   )
                      FOR CFC 11 AND CFC 12
                  t
1.   Production capacity is defined as full capacity in 21 hours
     continuous service , multiplied by the average number of day ;
     per year the plants are able to run under normal conditions
     of maintenance and safe operability .
     It is expressed in tons per year .                        ■ •   .
2.   The reference figure for the total Community production
     capacity , including all ten Community producers , is 480,000
     tons per year based on a weighted mean of 332 working days
     per year . This includes all lines producing CFC 11 and CFC
     12 on the 26 March 1980 either exclusively or on a campaign
     basis .