Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Report on the implementation of Directive 2004/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products and amending Directive 1999/13/EC

Directive 2004/42/EC of the European Parliament and the Council ("the Paints Directive") limits emissions of volatile organic compounds ("VOC") due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing products.

The Paints Directive aims to prevent or reduce air pollution resulting from the contribution of VOC to the formation of ground-level ozone and secondary particulate matter. It complements measures to be taken at national level in order to ensure compliance with the VOC emission ceilings as set out in Directive 2001/81/EC on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants ("the NEC Directive"). The products it covers are paints and varnishes applied to buildings, their trim and fittings and associated structures for decorative, functional and protective reasons, as well as products for vehicle refinishing.

The Paints Directive requires that the products falling under its scope and placed on the market after 1 January 2007 have a VOC content not exceeding the limit values set out in its Annex II. Stricter (Phase II) VOC limit values have applied since 1 January 2010 for paints and varnishes. The Paints Directive also requires the labelling of products to indicate their VOC content and thus help inform consumer choice. Member States must set up a monitoring programme to verify compliance with the VOC limits and labelling requirements, with regular reporting to the Commission on the results thereof.

This is the Commission's second report to the European Parliament and to the Council providing an overview of the implementation of the Paints Directive by Member States. The first report was adopted in 2011. The on-going review of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution (TSAP) includes a holistic assessment of VOC emission sources and possible cost-effective reduction measures. Therefore, no separate review of the Paints Directive has been undertaken.

As a supplementary action at a European level, it should be noted there are now 'Ecolabels' for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes. These Ecolabels require, inter alia, stricter voluntary limitations of the VOC content of products, thus leading to further reductions in VOC emissions by more informed consumer product selection.

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)704: Follow the progress of this report through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:704:FIN

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