Substances that deplete the ozone layer

In light of developments in 1998 and 1999 relating to substances that deplete the ozone layer, the Commission has drafted this amended proposal. The Commission has made two types of changes. Firstly, in response to the second reading by the European Parliament, a number of new provisions were accepted. The majority of these serve either to remove ambiguities or to provide further measures that correspond to but do not change the fundamental principles of the original Commission proposal. Secondly, the Commission has re-introduced time limits that were contained in the Political Agreement but that were left out of the Common Position awaiting more reliable information about the time of adoption. It has also replaced references to dates that have become obsolete by dates in line with the spirit of the Common Position in light of the likely adoption during 2000 of the new Regulation.�