EU limits on non-road machinery emissions gain support

The actual proposed legislation to restrict non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) emissions covers internal ignition engines used in machines which range from small handheld equipment -- such as lawn mowers as well as chain saws - to larger agricultural, farming and also construction machinery.

Other samples of machinery covered by the NRMM rules include harvesters, cultivators, bulldozers, excavators, railcars, train locomotives and inland waterway ships.

Such machinery accounts for about 15% of all nitrogen o2 (NOx) emissions and five per cent of all particulate emissions within the EU. As such the suggested legislation covers NOx, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulates.

With regard to particulate matter, the rules bring in limits in most engine groups on particulate numbers matching the limit of compound mass. This means that ultrafine contaminants will also be limited.

After amending the proposals to reduce the administrative burden upon small firms, MEPs identified in favour of the draft guidelines by 64 votes to 3 against with no abstentions.

Because of the often long lifetimes associated with NRMM, they also proposed conditions to encourage owners regarding affected machinery to re-fit their equipment with cleanser engines and particulate filter systems, particularly in densely-populated cities.

However , MEPs also selected for a temporary exemption through the proposed rules for cellular cranes, engines for away from the coast waterway vessels, heavy devices and all machines with a lengthier life time manufactured by small businesses.

As well as, the Committee failed to consent to new emissions standards in-line with the USA norms coupled with a particulate number (PN) for inland waterway yachts.

Speaking after the vote in Tuesday (September 15), Italian language Christian Democrat MEP Elisabetta Gardini - who is guiding the legislation through the Legislative house - said: “Today’s political election represents a crucial step in establishing rules that, by enhancing air quality, enhance EU citizens’ lives.

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