France edges towards industrial plant compliance

Nearly 1,000 French industrial installations became compliant with IPPC during 2009 and the remaining 700 should do so by the end of 2010, junior environment minister Chantal Jouanno said on Thursday.

France is one of several EU countries the European Commission is taking legal action against because of failures to implement the EU’s 1996 directive on integrated pollution prevention and control. Most EU states missed a major October 2007 deadline.

The report also outlines the ministry’s priorities for 2010, which include the drafting of technological risk prevention plans, improving the safety of pipelines, increasing checks on cross-border waste shipments and dealing with or eliminating equipment that contains polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB).

The actions prioritised in the report are in line with recent legislation implementing the objectives of the “Grenelle de l’environnement” plan launched by the French government in 2007.