The IPPC Directive

Towards a future policy on industrial emissions

Commission takes steps to cut industrial emissions further

On 21 December 2007 the Commission adopted a Proposal for a Directive on industrial emissions. The Proposal recasts seven existing Directives related to industrial emissions into a single clear and coherent legislative instrument. The recast includes in particular the IPPC Directive.

The IPPC Directive has been in place for over 10 years and the Commission has undertaken a 2 year review with all stakeholders to examine how it, and the related legislation on industrial emissions, can be improved to offer the highest level of protection for the environment and human health while simplifying the existing legislation and cutting unnecessary administrative costs. The results of this review have provided clear evidence of the need for action to be taken at a Community level.

See also Press Release and Questions and Answers about the new Proposal.

The IPPC Directive has recently been codified (Directive 2008/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control).

The codified act includes all the previous amendments to the Directive 96/61/EC and introduces some linguistic changes and adaptations (e.g. updating the number of legislation referred to in the text). The substance of Directive 96/61/EC has not been changed and the adopted new legal act is without prejudice to the new Proposal for a Directive on Industrial Emissions.