Emissions from air conditioning systems in motor vehicles

 The committee adopted the report by Avril DOYLE (EPP-ED, IE) approving the common position under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure, subject to two minor amendments.

The first of these, reinstating in modified form an amendment adopted by Parliament at 1st reading, introduced a new clause enabling Member States to promote, with immediate effect, the installation of air conditioning systems using a gas, such as CO2, that is efficient and has a low global warming potential. Member States shall notify the Commission if they introduce tax or other incentives to encourage the installation of systems with a lower global warming potential.

The second amendment introduced a new Article 6a on labelling, which stipulated that car air conditioning systems designed to contain fluorinated greenhouse gases must have labels identifying the chemical names of these gases using the accepted industry nomenclature and stating their global warming potential. The labels must be placed on the outside of the vehicles "in such a way as to be clearly visible, and not obscured".