Decision 2016/768 - Acceptance of the Amendments to the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals - Main contents
18.5.2016 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 127/8 |
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2016/768
of 21 April 2016
on the acceptance of the Amendments to the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a), thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,
Whereas:
(1) |
The Union is a party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (‘the Convention’), following its approval in 1981 (1). |
(2) |
The Union is a party to the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals (‘the Protocol’), following its approval on 4 April 2001 (2). |
(3) |
The parties to the Protocol opened negotiations in 2009, the scope of which was extended in 2010, with a view to further improving the protection of human health and the environment, including through the updating of emission limit values that addressed emissions of air pollutants at source. |
(4) |
In 2012, the parties present at the 31st session of the Executive Body of the Convention adopted by consensus Decisions 2012/5 and 2012/6 amending the Protocol. |
(5) |
The amendments set out in Decision 2012/6 entered into force and became effective on the basis of the expedited procedure provided for in Article 13(4) of the Protocol. |
(6) |
The amendments set out in Decision 2012/5 require acceptance by the parties to the Protocol in accordance with Article 13(3) of the Protocol. |
(7) |
The Union has already adopted instruments on matters covered by the amendments to the Protocol, including Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (3). |
(8) |
The amendments to the Protocol set out in Decision 2012/5 should therefore be accepted on behalf of the Union, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The amendments to the 1998 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Heavy Metals (‘the Protocol’) are hereby accepted on behalf of the Union.
The text of the amendments to the Protocol as set out in the Annex to Decision 2012/5/EC of the Executive Body of the Convention is attached to this Decision.
Article 2
The President of the Council shall designate the person(s) empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Union, as regards matters falling within the Union's competence, the instrument of acceptance provided for in Article 13(3) of the Protocol (4).
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 21 April 2016.
For the Council
The President
G.A. VAN DER STEUR
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Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17).
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The date of entry into force of the amendments to the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.
AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTOCOL
as set out in the Annex to Decision 2012/5 of the Executive Body of the Convention
(a) Article 1
1. |
In paragraph 10 the words ‘of: (i) this Protocol; or (ii) an amendment to annex I or II, where the stationary source becomes subject to the provisions of this Protocol only by virtue of that amendment’ are replaced by the words ‘for a Party of the present Protocol. A Party may decide not to treat as a new stationary source any stationary source for which approval has already been given by the appropriate competent national authority at the time of entry into force of the Protocol for that Party and provided that the construction or substantial modification is commenced within five years of that date’. |
2. |
A new paragraph 12 is added after paragraph 11 as follows: ‘12. The terms “this Protocol”, “the Protocol” and “the present Protocol” mean the 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals, as amended from time to time.’ |
(b) Article 3
3. |
In paragraph 2, the word ‘Each’ is replaced by the words ‘Subject to paragraphs 2 bis and 2 ter, each’. |
4. |
In paragraph 2 (a) the words ‘for which annex III identifies best available techniques’ are replaced by the words ‘for which guidance adopted by the Parties at a session of the Executive Body identifies best available techniques’. |
5. |
In paragraph 2 (c) the words ‘for which annex III identifies best available techniques’ are replaced by the words ‘for which guidance adopted by the Parties at a session of the Executive Body identifies best available techniques’. |
6. |
New paragraphs 2 bis and 2 ter are inserted after paragraph 2 as follows: ‘2 bis. A Party that was already a Party to the present Protocol prior to the entry into force of an amendment that introduces new source categories may apply the limit values applicable to an “existing stationary source” to any source in such a new category the construction or substantial modification of which is commenced before the expiry of two years from the date of entry into force of that amendment for that Party, unless and until that source later undergoes substantial modification. 2 ter. A Party that was already a Party to the present Protocol prior to the entry into force of an amendment that introduces new limit values applicable to a “new stationary source” may continue to apply the previously applicable limit values to any source the construction or substantial modification of which is commenced before the expiry of two years from the date of entry into force of that amendment for that Party, unless and until that source later undergoes substantial modification.’ |
7. |
In paragraph 5:
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8. |
A new paragraph 8 is added at the end of article 3, as follows: ‘8. Each Party should actively participate in programmes under the Convention on the effects of air pollution on human health and the environment and programmes on atmospheric monitoring and modelling.’ |
(c) Article 3 bis
9. |
A new article 3 bis is added as follows: ‘Article 3 bis Flexible transitional arrangements
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(d) Article 7
10. |
In paragraph 1 (a):
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11. |
For paragraph 1 (b) there is substituted the following:
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12. |
New paragraphs are added after paragraph 1 (b) as follows:
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13. |
In paragraph 3:
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(e) Article 8
14. |
The words ‘EMEP shall, using appropriate models and measurements and in good time before each annual session of the Executive Body’ are replaced by ‘Upon the request of and in accordance with timescales decided by the Executive Body, EMEP and its technical bodies and centres shall, using appropriate models and measurements,’. |
(f) Article 10
15. |
In paragraph 4:
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(g) Article 13
16. |
In paragraph 3:
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17. |
In paragraph 4 the word ‘ninety’ is replaced by the figure ‘180’. |
18. |
In paragraph 5 the word ‘ninety’ is replaced by the figure ‘180’. |
19. |
New paragraphs 5 bis and 5 ter are inserted after paragraph 5 as follows: ‘5 bis. For those Parties having accepted it, the procedure set out in paragraph 5 ter supersedes the procedure set out in paragraph 3 in respect of amendments to annexes II, IV, V and VI. 5 ter. Amendments to annexes II, IV, V and VI shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present at a session of the Executive Body. On the expiry of one year 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 submitted to the Depositary a notification in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (a):
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(h) Article 15
20. |
A new paragraph 3 is added after paragraph 2 as follows: ‘3. A State or regional economic integration organization shall declare in its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession if it does not intend to be bound by the procedures set out in article 13, paragraph 5 ter, as regards the amendment of annexes II, IV, V and VI.’ |
(i) Annex II
21. |
In the table under subheading II, the words ‘lead and zinc’ in the first line under the description of category 5 are replaced with the words ‘lead, zinc and silico- and ferro-manganese alloys’. |
(j) Annex IV
22. |
The number ‘1.’ is added in front of the first paragraph. |
23. |
In subparagraph (a), the words ‘for a Party’ are inserted after the word ‘Protocol’. |
24. |
In subparagraph (b):
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25. |
At the end of the annex new paragraphs 2 and 3 are inserted as follows:
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(k) Annex V
26. |
For Annex V the following text is substituted: ‘ANNEX V Limit values for controlling emissions from major stationary sources
Combustion plants (boilers and process heaters) with a rated thermal input exceeding 50 MWth (1) (annex II, category 1)
Primary and secondary iron and steel industry (annex II, category 2 and 3)
Iron foundries (annex II, category 4)
Production and processing of copper, zinc and silico- and ferro- manganese alloys, including Imperial Smelting furnaces (annex II, categories 5 and 6)
Production and processing of lead (annex II, categories 5 and 6)
Cement industry (annex II, category 7)
Glass industry (annex II, category 8)
Chlor-alkali industry (annex II, category 9)
Waste incineration (annex II, categories 10 and 11)
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(l) Annex VI
27. |
In paragraph 1:
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28. |
Paragraph 3 is deleted. |
29. |
In paragraph 4, the word ‘A’ is replaced by the words ‘Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a’. |
30. |
In paragraph 5, the following text is substituted for the chapeau prior to subparagraph (a): ‘Each Party shall, no later than the date of entry into force of this Protocol for that Party, achieve concentration levels which do not exceed:’ |
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The rated thermal input of the combustion plant is calculated as the sum of the input of all units connected to a common stack. Individual units below 15 MWth shall not be considered when calculating the total rated thermal input.
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In particular, the ELVs shall not apply to:
— |
Plants using biomass and peat as their only fuel source |
— |
Plants in which the products of combustion are used for direct heating, drying, or any other treatment of objects or materials; |
— |
Post-combustion plants designed to purify the waste gases by combustion which are not operated as independent combustion plants; |
— |
Facilities for the regeneration of catalytic cracking catalysts; |
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Facilities for the conversion of hydrogen sulphide into sulphur; |
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Reactors used in the chemical industry; |
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Coke battery furnaces; |
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Cowpers; |
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Recovery boilers within installations for the production of pulp; |
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Waste incinerators; and |
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Plants powered by diesel, petrol or gas engines or by combustion turbines, irrespective of the fuel used. |
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Limit values refer to an oxygen content of 6 % for solid fuels and 3 % for liquid fuels.
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Limit values refer to an oxygen content of 10 %.
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Limit values refer to an oxygen content of 8 % for continuous melting and 13 % for discontinuous melting.
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1 Mg = 1 tonne.
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Limit value refers to an oxygen content of 11 %.
This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.