OBJECTIVE: To prevent and minimize emissions from industrial installations into the air, water or
soil, on the basis of a horizontal approach which is to replace the sectoral approach followed to date.
COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention
and control.
SUBSTANCE: The framework Directive provides for compliance by industrial installations with
emission limit values established on the basis of the 'best available techniques' (BATS) and the issue
of permits in respect of such installations, so as to ensure that no new installations may be operated
unless they comply with the Directive.
The Directive lays down the general principles governing the basic obligations of the operators of
such installations, which the Member States must enforce.
Applications for permits for new installations and for substantial changes to existing installations
must be made available to the public, to enable it to comment on them before the competent
authority reaches its decision.
The Directive contains a detailed list of the descriptions which must be provided when permits are
applied for. Where more than one competent authority is involved, consideration of applications
shall be coordinated in order to guarantee an effective integrated approach.
The Directive also covers compliance with and reconsideration and updating of permit conditions.
It also provides for the setting of limit values for those categories of installations in respect of which
the need for Community action has been identified.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 30/10/1996
DEADLINE FOR TRANSPOSITION: 30/10/1999. An eight-year transition period is envisaged for
existing installations.
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