Ambient Air Quality
National legislation on ambient air quality transposes the legislation of the European Commission, and thus aims for the same objective, that is, to develop a long-term, strategic and integrated policy advice to protect against significant negative effects of air pollution on human health and the environment.
The main directive on ambient air quality is Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27th September 1996 on Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management. This Directive
Sets a general policy framework for dealing with ambient air quality
Does not look at the source of pollution, but on the effect on human health and the environment
Requires Member States to put in place systems for assessing ambient air quality based upon common methods and criteria
Requires Member States to maintain ambient air quality where it is good and improve it in other cases, by means of plans and programs of action
Lays down provisions for a system of gathering, reporting and publicizing information. This includes both data reported to the Commission and information to the public
The provisions of this Directive are implemented through the Four Daughter Directives on air quality, which are all transposed into national legislation. The following table links the EU Directives to national legislation:
Directive
| Legal Notice
| Amendment
|
Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27th September 1996 on Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management.
| L.N. 216 of 2001 Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management Regulations
| L.N. 235 of 2004 - Environment Protection Act, 2001, Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management (Amendment) Regulations, 2004
|
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
| L.N. 224 of 2001 relating to limit values for nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, lead and particulate matter in Ambient Air Regulations
| L.N. 231 of 2004 - Environment Protection Act, 2001, Limit Values for Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen, Particulate Matter and Lead in Ambient Air (Amendment) Regulations, 2004
|
Directive 2000/69/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in Ambient Air
| L.N. 163 of 2002 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in Ambient Air Regulations
| N/A
|
| Directive 2002/3/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in Ambient Air | L.N. 11 of 2003 relating to ozone in Ambient Air Regulations
| N/A
|
Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Ambient Air
| L.N. 292 of 2007 relating to Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air Regulations
| N/A
|
National Emissions
National emissions of nitrogen oxides, ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds and sulphur dioxide are regulated by the Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants, transposed into national legislation by L.N. 291 of 2002 and amended by L.N. 232 of 2004.
International Legislation
The Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution aims to combat acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone. The aim of the Convention is that Parties shall endeavour to limit and, as far as possible, gradually reduce and prevent air pollution including long-range transboundary air pollution. Parties develop policies and strategies to combat the discharge of air pollutants through exchanges of information, consultation, research and monitoring.
The EU is a party to this Convention through Council Decision 2003/507/EC.