Press Release: Council backs cleaner marine fuel standards

The Council adopted today (29.10.2012) a directive amending directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels. Emissions from shipping due to the combustion of marine fuels with a high sulphur content contribute to air pollution in the form of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, which harm human health and contribute to acidification. The directive aims therefore to reduce
these emissions considerably and to provide a high level of protection for human health and the environment by rendering the most recent International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) rules on marine fuel standards mandatory in the EU, thereby amending Directive 1999/32/EC.