---

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what annual usage of volatile organic compounds require motor vehicle body repair shops to register with their local authority. [157138] Mr. Hill: The Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991, as amended, made under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 set thresholds for annual usage of organic solvents in coating processes. The regulations include a requirement that the following processes be authorised by the relevant local authority: "Any process for the repainting or respraying of or of parts of road vehicles if the process may result in the release into the air of particulate matter or of any volatile organic compound and the carrying on of the process by the person concerned at the location in question is likely to involve the use of 1 tonne or more of organic solvents in any 12 month period." Additionally, under the Solvent Emissions Directive (1999/13/EC) motor vehicle body repair shops that use between 0.5 and 1 tonne per annum of organic solvents will also be required to be regulated to control volatile organic compound emissions. However, for existing processes, the provisions of the Directive will not fully apply until October 2007.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

157138; 366 c374W

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Hazardous substances Motor vehicles Safety Safety measures Repairs and maintenance Volatile organic compounds

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk