News & Press
Defra Apply for Extension to Meet PM10 Limits | 24 Apr 2009
Defra have submitted their application for an extension to meet air quality limits for PM10 for eight areas of the UK.
The application follows the European Commission beginning legal proceedings against the UK in January 2009 for failing to meet legally binding EU limits by the deadline in October 2008.
Defra's application, which they consulted on in January, requests an exemption for eight areas of the UK from the obligation to apply the limit values for particulate matter until 2011, as provided for under the new Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC).
The eight areas where PM10 limits have been breached are:
- Greater London urban area
- West Midlands urban area
- West Yorkshire urban area
- Glasgow urban area
- Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton
- Swansea urban area
- Eastern England zone
- Yorkshire and Humberside zone
For further details visit the Defra website.
The Commission began legal action against ten member states in January.The Commission has 9 months to assess the application.