Anti pollution law drafted by Spain

Joan Collins THE Spanish Government has produced a draft of the Air Quality and Atmosphere Protection Law which will oblige the autonomous regions to exercise a more rigorous control over air contamination. With the celebration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in mind, the Spanish Ministry of the Environment announced yesterday that this Law will be ready at the end of the year and it is one of the instruments of the Spanish Air Quality Strategy. The protection of the ozone layer forms a part of the Ministry for the Environment's policy for the prevention of atmospheric contamination. For that reason the draft Air Quality and Atmospheric Protection Law lays down the principles for management of air quality and the protection of the atmosphere, and for correction of contamination by laying down heavy fines for anybody contaminating the atmosphere. Since 1995 the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer has been celebrated on September 16. This date was chosen by the General Assembly of the United Nations, to commemorate the signing in 1987 of the Montreal Protocol relating to substances which damage the ozone layer. The slogan chosen this year is “To protect the ozone layer is to save the Earth's life”. After the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic, the international community recognised the necessity to drastically reduce the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as these are the main cause of the damage done to the ozone layer. These substances are used as refrigerants, propellants, in the manufacture of foam, as fire retardant agents and as fumigants against plagues. This world commemoration brings the opportunity to centre attention and action on world, regional and national plans for the protection of the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol, during its nearly 20 years of life, has been recognised as one of the most successful multilateral agreements. Spain, as a member of the Montreal Protocol and its amendments, participates actively in the policies for the protection of the ozone layer, being the eighth country which contributes most to the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol, the Ministry said yesterday. Spain has, for more than a decade, been reducing the use of substances which damage the ozone layer.