Noise

Workshop “Towards a greater awareness of low-noise outdoor machinery”

In the context of the Belgian presidency, the Belgian ministry of Environment will host a workshop in collaboration with the European Commission entitled: “Towards  low-noise outdoor machinery”.  The goal of the workshop is to discuss ways for further developing a market for low-noise outdoor machinery.  The workshop will take place in Brussels on 29 October, 2010.

Environmental noise is today one of the most important policy areas. Outdoor machinery, such as garden equipment, municipal equipment, construction machinery, is a significant source of noise in the environment.

Noise emissions of outdoor machinery are regulated by European directive 2000/14/EC.  This directive lays down minimal requirements (such as noise marking, noise emission limis) for outdoor machinery that must be respected before equipment can be placed on the European market. It represents a conventional (“command-and-control”) regulatory approach. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss additional policy instruments, in order to develop a market for low-noise machinery.  The focus will be on market-based policy instruments. 

During the workshop, the following questions will be discussed:

• How to enhance the environmental commitment of consumers (citizens, local authorities) with respect to low-noise machinery? Green public procurement: is there a place for outdoor equipment?

• How can the consumer distinguish low-noise machinery from just a compliant product? Is there need for special labels?

• Noise is just one of the environmental criteria. Should new policy instruments address other forms of environmental pollution from outdoor equipment? The tyre labelling scheme and ecolabels will be discussed as examples.

• What could be an efficient economic incentive for firms using outdoor machinery in professional context? A Duch experience (tax-relief programs) will be presented.

The workshop will help to trigger information exchange between different policy areas and to start a dialogue between decision makers, manufacturers and consumers to enhance environmental awareness in relation to outdoor machinery.

Participation is free of charge. Registration is necessary. Please fill in the registration form.