Environment: substances depleting the ozone layer, allocation of hydrochlorofluorocarbons HCFCs, base year

The committee adopted the report (under the codecision procedure, first reading) by Anneli HULTHÉN (PES, S) backing the Commission proposal modifying the rules which are to govern the allocation of quotas for producers and importers of HCFCs, to take account of the fact that 27 new importers have entered the market since 1996 (the original base year for the calculation of quotas). The committee unanimously supported the Commission's suggestion that 1999 be set as a fresh base date, which will enable more companies to obtain a share of the market.�