The department of environmental affairs and tourism has recommended that Euro emission standards be introduced for vehicles in SA to deal with the increase of pollution.
The department of environmental affairs and tourism has recommended that Euro emission standards be introduced for vehicles in SA to deal with the increase of pollution.
According to , a national vehicle emissions strategy was discussed at a recent workshop on phasing out lead from petrol in South Africa.
Tsietsi Mahema, the department’s deputy director of air quality management, said they were focusing on vehicle emissions because they made up about 40 per cent of pollutants in urban areas.
Mahema told the newspaper that the draft strategy had recommended that Euro1 vehicle emission standards be adopted by 2004 for all newly manufactured vehicles, Euro2 standards by 2006 and Euro4 standards by 2010. The workshop participants also want tailpipe standards for both petrol and diesel vehicles.
Euro1 standard means emissions with 2,72 carbon-monoxide grams per kilometre, with no limits on hydrocarbons and nitrous-oxides. By Euro4 stage, emissions must be reduced to 1,0 g/km CO, 0,1 g/km HC and 0,08 g/km NOx.
The department hoped to introduce new draft legislation before the end of the year that would repeal the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act from 1965.