DIRECTIVE 2001/80/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 October 2001 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants.

This Directive applies to combustion plants (technical apparatus in which fuels are oxidised in order to use the heat thus generated) with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 50 MW, irrespective of the type of fuel used.

The aim of the Directive is gradually to reduce the annual emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen from existing plants and to lay down emission limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust in the case of new plants.

Main tasks of Directive 2001/80/EC:

• concerning existing combustion plants:
• not later than 1 July 1990 Member States must draw up programmes for the progressive reduction of total annual emissions;
• these programmes must be based on the emission ceilings and corresponding percentage reductions for sulphur dioxide (set out in Annex I) and oxides of nitrogen (set out in Annex II).

• concerning permits for the construction of combustion plants or licences for the operation of new plants:
• all licences requested before 27 November 2002 for plants to be put into operation no later than 27 November 2003: these will be issued by the Member States and must comply with the emission limit values laid down in part A of Annexes III to VII for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and dust;
• all other plants must comply with the emission limit values laid down in part B of Annexes III to VII for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and dust.

Member States may require compliance with emission limit values and time limits for implementation are stricter than those provided for in the Directive, include other pollutants and lay down additional requirements. They must in any event achieve significant emission reductions by 1 January 2008 at the latest.

Member States may define and implement a national emission reduction plan for existing plants which they must communicate to the Commission. These plans will contain objectives, measures and timetables for attaining them, and a monitoring mechanism. Commission shall, no later than 27 November 2003 develop guidelines to assist Member States in the preparation of they plans.

The Decision defines the methods of measurement of emissions . Member States must take the necessary measures to ensure that monitoring of emissions from the combustion plants covered by the Directive and of all other values required for the implementation of this Directive. They may require such monitoring to be carried out at the operator's expense.