Greece in breach of ozone laws

Laws requiring adequate training for workers charged with disposing of ozone depleting substances have not been enforced in Greece.


Ozone Depleting Substances

The European Court of Justice has held that Greece has failed in its obligations under Articles 16(5) and (6) and 17(1) of Regulation 2037/2000 on ozone depleting substances.

The Court held that in failing to specify the minimum qualification required of personnel charged with the recovery, recycling, regeneration and destruction of ozone depleting substances, Greece had failed in its obligations under the Regulation.

The National regulation in force did not define the minimum necessary qualifications for those handling regulated substances under the regulation, and the domestic regulation was not amended as such until after the two month period for compliance granted by the Reasoned Opinion issued by the Commission on 19 December 2003.

The Court also held that by failing to submit a report with information relating to available installations and quantities of used substances that had been recovered, recycled, regenerated or destroyed by 21 December 2001, Greece had failed in its obligations under the Regulation.

Finally, the Court held that by failing to take the necessary preventative measures to ensure that fixed equipment containing more than 3kg of cooling fluid were monitored annually to establish whether or not there were leaks or escapes, Greece failed in its obligations under the Regulation.

The text of the judgement is available at the following link.

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