EU agrees on greenhouse gas legislation
Ireland on Line - April 6, 2006
The European Parliament passed a law today requiring refrigerators, air conditioning units and other products to carry warning labels if they contain fluorinated gases blamed for contributing to global warming.
The new rules also set minimum technical standards for such appliances and promote the development of alternative technologies without the greenhouse gases.
According to the rules, member countries can apply stricter standards if they wish to. The rules will be revised again in 2012.
The labelling will clearly state the fluorinated gases included in products and oblige manufacturers to include instruction manuals explaining their potential impact on the climate to consumers. The exact wording of the labels has yet to be decided.
Fluorinated gases are used in a range of products, including insulating foams, refrigerators, air conditioning units, fire protection gear and the soles of air-cushioned: running shoes.
Although they only account for about 2% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions, they remain in the atmosphere for many years – even centuries or millennia in some cases – are expected to increase by about 50% by 2010 without action.
As part of a deal with the EU Parliament, the European Commission agreed to stop infringement proceedings against Austria and Denmark launched after the EU executive found the two nations’ laws on phasing out fluorinated gases too restrictive and discriminatory on importers providing products adhering to minimum EU standards.
SOURCE:
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.a ... =y785x5746