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European Union withdraws proposal for revised regulations on air quality

The European Commission has withdrawn a proposal for the revision of a legislative file aimed at regulating air quality in the European Union.

The National Emission Ceilings Directive had set maximum emission levels for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, ammonia and methane.

The European Commission will move forward with a modified proposal, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said in a press release. However there is no indication as to when the new proposal is scheduled to be released.

Breda Flood, president of European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations, said she was surprised by the decision.

“We are shocked at the death sentence imposed by the Commission on EU air quality policies,” she said in the release. “Air pollution has no boundaries and needs to be regulated at EU level.”