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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 30) reminded people that the regulation to curb local emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) would come into force in phases starting from April 1.
The Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation will impose a direct ban on the import and local manufacture of products with VOC contents exceeding the prescribed limits.
The products that come under control include architectural paints, printing inks and six types of consumer goods (i.e. hairsprays, air fresheners, insecticides, insect repellents, floor wax strippers and multi-purpose lubricants).
The regulation also requires emission reduction devices to be installed on certain printing machines.
A spokesman for the department pointed out that VOCs played a significant role in the formation of ozone and respirable suspended particulates, major pollutants giving rise to the smog problem in the Pearl River Delta Region.
"We expect that about 8,000 tonnes of local VOC emissions will be reduced by introducing the regulation," he said, adding that it would also bring Hong Kong to the forefront of VOC control in the world.
"The new regulation is an essential step towards the targets agreed by the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong Province to reduce VOC emissions by 55% by 2010, on the basis of the emissions in 1997," he said.
"It will ultimately enable Hong Kong to meet its air quality objectives, significantly improve local and regional air quality, as well as relieve the regional smog problem to a great extent," he said.
Further details of the new regulation are available at EPD's website at:
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/voc_reg.html.
Ends/Friday, March 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:00
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