• New limits on emissions from diesel trucks and buses have been agreed by EC environment ministers.
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The changes, due to be phased in over the next few years, will cover new prototypes and existing models coming off the production lines.
UK Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine describes the move as a "welcome environmental enhancement".
In the first stage, prototypes will have to be adapted to meet the new rules by July 1992 while existing models coming off the production lines will have until October 1993. The second stage will affect prototypes by October 1995 and existing models by October 1996.
Existing emission limits will have to be cut by around 50% and later this year ministers will also discuss a sulphur limit of 0.05%. In the first stage carbon monoxide will be restricted to 4.5g/kWh; hydrocarbons 1.1g/kWh; nitrous oxides 8g/kWh; particulates 0.63g/ kWh for engines less than 85kW (114hp) and 0.36 for those above that 85kW.
The second stage will set figures of CO, 4g/kWh: HC, 1.1g/kWh; NoX, 7g/kWh; and particulates, 0.15g/kWh.