New VOC Regulations come into effect
The Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2005 came into force on 1st November 2005 in England and Wales, implementing the Paints Directive (2004/42/EC) on the limitation of emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products. The regulations amend the Solvent Emissions Directive (SED) (1999/13/EC).
The Paints Directive aims to reduce emissions of VOCs across the UK and Europe. VOCs react with sunlight to form ground level ozone (summer smog) and lower emissions resulting from this Directive will lead to improvements in air quality and public health.
The Paints Directive applies a product-based approach to control emissions by setting:
• maximum content limits for solvents (VOCs) in decorative paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing
products, from 1st January 2007 (Phase I)
• more stringent limits for the maximum content limits of solvents of decorative paints and
varnishes, from 1st January 2010 (Phase II).
The Paints Directive repeals the requirements for vehicle refinishing under the SED. Instead, refinishers using less than a tonne of solvents per year will have to use low solvent paints that comply with the Directive. Refinishers above the threshold - operators using more than one tonne of solvent per year - will remain regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000, but will benefit from simpler permitting arrangements and lower fees.
Further information can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/paints-directive/index.htm
A copy of the Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2005 (Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 2773) is available from the Office of Public Information website at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20052773.htm
Source: www.defra.gov.uk (accessed 16/12/05)