Press Release: Commission welcomes agreement in Parliament on ozone layer

The Commission welcomed the vote on 25 March by the European Parliament that confirmed the first reading agreement reached between Parliament and Council on reinforcing ozone legislation. The agreement came less than a year after the Commission's proposal was presented. In addition to updating current legislation on the protection of the ozone layer in light of scientific developments, the new regulation reinforced measures on the illegal trade and remaining uses of ozone depleting substances, including hydrochlorofluorocarbons. It also confirmed the ban on the use of methyl bromide from early 2010 and bolstereed measures on the management of banned substances in older products.