Summary
VOCs, volatile organic compounds, are organic solvents used in a broad range of industrial processes and are often found in the final products from those activities e.g. paints, adhesives, and inks. A high accumulation of ozone gas in the lower atmosphere can be harmful to people, animals, crops, and other materials. In reaction to this issue, the EU adopted Directive 2001/81/EC establishing national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants, including VOCs. Additionally, the EU has recently adopted Directive 2004/42/CE, on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints, varnishes, and vehicle refinishing products. The recent directive (amending Directive 1999/13/EC) aims to harmonize limit values for the content of VOCs in the products (paints, varnishes, vehicle refinishing products) to ensure that the limits do not restrict the free movement of these products in the market. The directive went into force on April 30, 2004, and Member States must transpose the directive into national law by October 30, 2005.