The proposal is designed to preserve and improve the quality of the environment and to ensure the functioning of the internal market and aviod distortions to competition. To this end, it establishes measures on the prevention of waste from vehicles (including restrictions on the use of hazardous substances in new vehicles), on the collection of vehicles as well as their treatment, recycling and recovery.
The Commission accepts in full, in part or in principle thirteen of the thirty-two amendments adopted by the Parliament. They are incorporated in the new amended proposal and may therefore be re-examined by the Council.
The amendments accepted by the Commission relate in particular to:
- replacing the term "dismantling manual" with the term "dismantling information";
- the Committee procedure;
- "special purpose" vehicles (ambulances, hearses, motor-caravans);
- the addition of a number of requirements and requires component manufacturers to provide recovery facilities with information on a number of technical aspects.
The amendments not accepted by the Commission relate to:
- the inclusion of spare and replacements parts into the scope of the Directive;
- excluding "cherished" vehicles from the scope of the Directive;
- the replacing of the word "recycling" with "recovery";
- the stripping of mercury containing components prior to shredding as well as an incitement not to landfill cadmium, lead and hexavlent chromium;
- the phase-out date of heavy metals;
- the introduction of new derogations dealing with the phase-out of heavy metals;
- the issue of producer responsibility;
- quality standards for reusable components;
- the delay of the date by which vehicles must be reusable/recyclable.�