Chemicals and air pollution control: consultation launched
The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) has opened the consultation process on two ordinances in the environmental field: The revised Chemicals Risk Reduction Ordinance specifies the requirements for specialist permits for the use of plant protection products. The Air Pollution Control Ordinance deals with the adjustment of limit values for particleboard and fiberboard plants.
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The revision of the Ordinance on Risk Reduction related to the Use of certain particularly dangerous Substances, Preparations and Articles (Chemicals Risk Reduction Ordinance, ChemRRV) regulates the use of plant protection products. The conditions for specialized permits for the use of plant protection products in agriculture, horticulture and silviculture and in special locations such as sports fields are to be specified. A new mandatory examination is to be required in order to obtain the certificate. This is also to be limited to eight years. An extension of the professional license is bound to a further education. Furthermore, there is to be a directory of the total of around 60,000 professional licenses.
Plant protection products for professional use can now only be purchased by persons with a professional permit. This is intended to strengthen the professional handling of chemicals. The measure contributes to meeting the objectives of the federal action plan for plant protection products. The plan aims to halve the risks associated with the use of plant protection products.
Better air in the production of wood fiberboard
The revision of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (LRV) provides for a reduction in the limit values for organic substances, nitrogen oxides, dust and formaldehyde at particleboard plants. In addition, plant-specific limit values are to be introduced for wood fiberboard production. This will bring the provisions of the LRV for such plants into line with the state of the art.
The LRV prohibits the burning of waste wood. However, in order to dry the chips and fibers, it should now be permitted to use waste wood for heat generation. Together with the LRV, the Waste Ordinance (VVEA) is therefore also to be amended. The use of waste wood makes sense from the point of view of resource conservation and is standard practice throughout the industry in Europe.
On December 22, 2021, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (Uvek) opened the consultation process for the revisions of the Chemicals Risk Reduction Ordinance and the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. It will last until April 5, 2022.
Press release Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
FOEN: Topic Chemicals - Consultations
FOEN: Topic Air - Consultations
The contribution Chemicals and air pollution control: consultation launched first appeared on Environment perspectives.
