08.10.05
CEPE, the European Council of Paint, Printing Ink and Artists Colours Industry, has released comments regarding the European Commission’s VOC reduction requirements for automotive refinish paint.
Among CEPE’s concerns is its disagreement with the VOC limit values for solventborne trim paints. The European Commission proposed a limit of 300 g/l for 2007 to be followed by further VOC reductions for 2010. CEPE contends that 300 g/l is the lowest achievable limit for the product category for the foreseeable future, as the industry has worked for a number of years to create products that would match the application and durability performance requirements. CEPE advocates fixing the VOC limits for solventborne trim paints at 400 g/l for 2007 and 300g/l for 2010. In addition, some VOC limit values of waterborne product subcategories as proposed also deviate from the proposal CEPE made.
According to CEPE a “major shortcoming” of the new proposed directive is that it splits the vehicle-refinishing sector into car and truck repair and truck and trailer painting not on a production line. The former would be controlled under the new directive, while the latter would remain under the SED. CEPE calls the decision “arbitrary and illogical,” as both are carried out by the same body shops with the same equipment. CEPE contends all vehicle refinishing should be removed from the scope of SED and should be placed in the scope of the new directive.
Among CEPE’s concerns is its disagreement with the VOC limit values for solventborne trim paints. The European Commission proposed a limit of 300 g/l for 2007 to be followed by further VOC reductions for 2010. CEPE contends that 300 g/l is the lowest achievable limit for the product category for the foreseeable future, as the industry has worked for a number of years to create products that would match the application and durability performance requirements. CEPE advocates fixing the VOC limits for solventborne trim paints at 400 g/l for 2007 and 300g/l for 2010. In addition, some VOC limit values of waterborne product subcategories as proposed also deviate from the proposal CEPE made.
According to CEPE a “major shortcoming” of the new proposed directive is that it splits the vehicle-refinishing sector into car and truck repair and truck and trailer painting not on a production line. The former would be controlled under the new directive, while the latter would remain under the SED. CEPE calls the decision “arbitrary and illogical,” as both are carried out by the same body shops with the same equipment. CEPE contends all vehicle refinishing should be removed from the scope of SED and should be placed in the scope of the new directive.