Considerations on COM(2008)462 - Amendment of Annexes IV and V to Regulation 850/2004 as regards the treatment of waste containing persistent organic pollutants in thermal and metallurgical production processes

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dossier COM(2008)462 - Amendment of Annexes IV and V to Regulation 850/2004 as regards the treatment of waste containing persistent organic ...
document COM(2008)462 EN
date April 14, 2009
 
table>(1)At the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention updated general technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of waste consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (Decision VIII/16) were adopted. The subsection on thermal and metallurgical production of metals was added to section IV.G.2 dealing with the destruction and irreversible transformation.
(2)The update of the guidelines should be reflected in Regulation (EC) No 850/2004, because they provide a relevant source for scientific and technical progress in the treatment of wastes containing persistent organic pollutants.

(3)The updated guidelines also define the levels of destruction and irreversible transformation necessary to ensure that the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants are not exhibited. The methods should, inter alia, not exceed the atmospheric emissions value for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) of 0,1 ng TEQ/Nm3. This value is identical to the air emission limit value laid down in Directive 2000/76/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste (2). Because it is essential to require that the facilities for the treatment of waste containing persistent organic pollutants meet the emission limit values for PCDDs and PCDFs laid down in Directive 2000/76/EC those limit values should be applied whether or not the processes are subject to that Directive.

(4)The updated general technical guidelines on persistent organic pollutants also recommend in section IV.G.1 to separate the part of waste equipment which contains or is contaminated with persistent organic pollutants. This requirement clarifies the implementation of pre-treatment operations as referred to in Part 1 of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004. Therefore Part 1 of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 should be amended accordingly.

(5)The toxic equivalent factors used in Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 to calculate concentration limits for PCDDs and PCDFs were updated by the World Health Organisation in 2005 on the basis of latest scientific information. This should be reflected in Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004.

(6)The measures provided for in this Regulation are the most appropriate to ensure a high level of protection of human health and environment.

(7)Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)The Committee established by Article 18 of Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) did not deliver an opinion on the measures provided for in this Regulation within the time-limit laid down by its Chairman and the Commission therefore submitted to the Council a proposal relating to the measures. Since, on the expiry of the period laid down in Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 850/2004, the Council had neither adopted the proposed measures nor indicated its opposition to them, they should, under the third subparagraph of Article 5(6) of Council Decision 1999/468/EC (4), be adopted by the Commission,