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Volatile Organic Compound

First, let’s recall that Directive 94/63/EC aims to prevent emissions to the atmosphere of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the storage of petrol at terminals and its subsequent distribution to service stations. The Directive contains measures that terminals should employ such as floating roofs and reflective coatings to reduce evaporative losses from storage tanks. In addition when petrol is loaded onto tankers and transported to service stations the directive ensures that any vapors are recovered and returned to the tanker or terminal.

Council Directive 1999/13/EC of 11 March 1999 on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations sets emission limit values (expressed in terms of the maximum solvent concentration in waste gases) and fugitive emission values (expressed as a percentage of solvent input). Industrial operators can be exempted from the limitations if they achieve by other means the same reduction as would be made by applying them. In other words, they can choose the most cost-effective way to achieve the required reductions: either by the use of abatement technology or by substituting high-solvent products by low-solvent or solvent-free products. Member states are required either to implement the set of emission limit values foreseen by the Directive, or to design and implement a National Plan to achieve the same reduction.

Directive 2004/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products and amending Directive 1999/13/EC lays down maximum limits for the VOC content of these products. The sub-categories of the relevant products are listed in Annex I to the proposal. Product categories falling within the scope of the Directive can be marketed in the EU only if they comply with the specifications in Annex II. Such products must be labeled when placed on the market. Table 1 in the Directive shows estimates of VOC emissions by sector and source for 2010. Finally, the products set out in Annex I must carry a label when they are placed on the market. The label shall indicate the subcategory of the product and the relevant VOC limit values in g/l as referred to in Annex II and the maximum content of VOC in g/l of the product in a ready to use condition.

Find the detailed Annex I and II in this document:

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2004/l_143/l_14320040430en00870096.pdf

Directive Code	Directive Name	Directive Date	Date of Enforcement
94/63/EC	control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations	20-Dec-1994	31-Dec-1995
1999/13/EC	limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations	11-Mar-1999	1-Apr-2001
Amendment	Directive 2004/42/EC on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products	21-Apr-2004	now - 2010