The Parties,
Determined to implement the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution,
Concerned that present emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and the resulting
secondary photochemical oxidant products are causing damage, in exposed parts of Europe
and North America, to natural resources of vital environmental and economic importance
and, under certain exposure conditions, have harmful effects on human health,
Noting that under the Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary
Fluxes, adopted in Sofia on 31 October 1988, there is already agreement to reduce emissions
of oxides of nitrogen,
Recognizing the contribution of VOCs and nitrogen oxides to the formation of tropospheric
ozone,
Recognizing also that VOCs, nitrogen oxides and resulting ozone are transported across
international boundaries, affecting air quality in neighbouring States,
Aware that the mechanism of photochemical oxidant creation is such that the reduction
of emissions of VOCs is necessary in order to reduce the incidence of photochemical
oxidants,
Further aware that methane and carbon monoxide emitted by human activities are present
at background levels in the air over the ECE region and contribute to the formation
of episodic peak ozone levels, that, in addition, their global-scale oxidation in
the presence of nitrogen oxides contributes to the formation of the background levels
of tropospheric ozone upon which photochemical episodes are superimposed, and that
methane is expected to become the subject of control actions in other forums,
Recalling that the Executive Body for the Convention identified at its sixth session the need to control emissions of VOCs or their transboundary
fluxes, as well as to control the incidence of photo
chemical oxidants, and the need for Parties that had already reduced these emissions
to maintain and review their emission standards for VOCs,
Acknowledging the measures already taken by some Parties which have had the effect
of reducing their national annual emissions of nitrogen oxides and VOCs,
Noting that some Parties have set air quality standards and/or objectives for tropospheric
ozone and that standards for tropospheric ozone concentrations have been set by the
World Health Organization and other competent bodies,
Determined to take effective action to control and reduce national annual emissions
of VOCs or the transboundary fluxes of VOCs and the resulting secondary photochemical
oxidant products, in particular by applying appropriate national or international
emission standards to new mobile and new stationary sources and retrofitting existing
major stationary sources, and also by limiting the content of components in products
for industrial and domestic use that have the potential to emit VOCs,
Conscious that volatile organic compounds differ greatly from each other in their
reactivity and in their potential to create tropospheric ozone and other photochemical
oxidants and that, for any individual compounds, potential may vary from time to time
and from place to place depending on meteorological and other factors,
Recognizing that such differenes and variations should be taken into consideration
if action to control and reduce emissions and transboundary fluxes of VOCs is to be
as effective as possible in minimizing the formation of tropospheric ozone and other
photochemical oxidants,
Taking into consideration existing scientific and technical data on emissions, atmospheric
movements and effects on the environment of VOCs and photochemical oxidants, as well
as on control technologies,
Recognizing that scientific and technical knowledge of these matters is developing
and that it will be necessary to take such developments into account when reviewing
the operation of the present Protocol and deciding on further action,
Noting that the elaboration of an approach based on critical levels is aimed at the
establishment of an effect-oriented scientific basis to be taken into account when
reviewing the operation of the present Protocol, and at deciding on further internationally
agreed measures to limit and reduce emissions of VOCs or the transboundary fluxes
of VOCs and photochemical oxidants,
Have agreed as follows: