Environment MEPs vote to curb off-road engine pollution

Environment Committee MEPs have backed draft rules to cut emissions of major air pollutants from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). They include lawn mowers, bulldozers and tractors and are said to […]

Environment Committee MEPs have backed draft rules to cut emissions of major air pollutants from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM).

They include lawn mowers, bulldozers and tractors and are said to account for around 15% of all nitrogen oxide emissions and 5% of particulate emissions in the EU.

The draft rules would cover internal combustion engines used in machines and includes provisions to encourage owners to retrofit machines that are already in service with cleaner model engines.

The committee backed the legislation by 64 votes to 3, with no abstentions.

Elisabetta Gardini, a member of the European People’s Party representing Italy and who is steering the legislation through Parliament said: “Today’s vote represents a crucial step in setting rules that, by improving air quality, enhance EU citizens’ lives.

“We have managed to show that environment protection, consumers’ health and the competitiveness of our industries are not irreconcilable objectives as many would like to believe but on the contrary, they are two sides of the same coin. I hope that the upcoming negotiations with the Council will confirm and improve the results achieved today.”

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