EPA regs amended
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• The Environmental Protection Act regulations which relate to the registration of paintshops are to be changed, as has been widely predicted. All paintshops using between one and two tonnes of VOC (solvents) a year will now be affected. Up until now just those using more than two tonnes were governed in this way.
This ammendment came into force on 1 June and allows existing paintshops six months from 1 December this year to register with the local authority. After this time the authority will allow a further 12 months for the submission of an upgrade plan detailing how and when the new requirements are to be met. The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Associaiton is delighted about the tighter restrictions as it was involved in pressing the Government for such a move. And it declared its objective to have the limit reduced to zero. Measures currently before the European Council of Ministers suggest that it may be successful.
But VBRA operations manager lain MacDonald is concerned about the time tabling of these and any future changes as confusion was caused when EPA was introduced. MacDonald says: "Those faced with making substantial investments in equipment to meet their obligations under current La regulations could find themselves going through the whole process again to meet the demands of the new EU legislation."