Noise pollution: reduction of noise emitted by excavators (modif. Directive 86/662/EEC)

The Council confirmed its agreement to the joint text resulting from the discussions of the Council-Parliament Conciliation Committee on the amendment of Directive 86/662/EEC on noise emitted by earth-moving machinery. The European Parliament having done likewise, the Directive was adopted. Directive 86/662/EEC fixed until December 1994 the permissible sound power levels of earth-moving machinery, with the corresponding certificates expiring one year later. The new Directive provides for a two-stage reduction in the noise emitted by certain types of earth-moving machinery. During the first stage, from 30 December 1996 onwards, the current limit values are to be reduced by about 4dB; a further 3dB reduction will take place during the second stage, which commences on 30 December 2001. As the start of the first stage does not coincide with the deadline set by Directive 86/662/EEC, it has been decided to extend the applicability of the current limit values and the period of validity of certificates granted under those values until 29 December 1996 and 29 December 1997 respectively. Earth-moving machines with an installed power of more than 500 kW (used mainly in quarries and mines) are not covered by the new Directive.