CEPE seeks revisions in EU plan for decorative, refinish coatings VOC rule

Citation

(2003), "CEPE seeks revisions in EU plan for decorative, refinish coatings VOC rule", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 32 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2003.12932dab.007

CEPE seeks revisions in EU plan for decorative, refinish coatings VOC rule

CEPE seeks revisions in EU plan for decorative, refinish coatings VOC rule

Keywords: Environment, Coatings

The European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ Colour Industry (CEPE) said it is seeking “clarification or modification” of several provisions of a European Union proposal for VOC reductions in decorative (architectural) coatings and varnishes and automotive-refinish coatings. CEPE reported that the EU proposal has been formally published. CEPE issued a statement that questions the proposed VOC directive’s cost/benefit estimates, saying the figures “do not always reflect reality”. The proposal is expected to have a greater economic and social impact than indicated, “have a disproportionate impact on small and medium-sized enterprises”, and create “significant difficulties for raw-material suppliers and customers of the paint industry”, CEPE said.

Addressing technical aspects of the VOC directive, CEPE said the EU proposal’s VOC limit of 300 g/l for solventborne trim paints should be revised to 400 g/l in 2007 and then reduced to 300 g/l in 2010. The EU plan calls for the 300 g/l limit in 2007, with an additional reduction in 2010. In addition, CEPE said several other VOC limits for waterborne products are infeasible for “technical or economic reasons”.

CEPE also recommended that the EU directive include proposed VOC limits for car and truck refinishing and truck/trailer painting processes, which would be regulated by separate rules under the proposed directive.