Control of Atmospheric Pollution (Control of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions Resulting from the Storage of Petrol and its Distribution from Terminals to Service Stations) Regulations, 2003 (P.I. 76/2003).

With the purpose of aligning the Cypriot legislation with Council Directive 94/63/EC on the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations, the present Regulations aim to prevent and reduce the direct or indirect effects of emissions of volatile organic compounds in the environment, mainly into air, and the potential risks to human health using appropriate technical measures. In general, these Regulations provide that the gasoline storage facilities, facilities for loading and unloading of petrol, mobile fuel tanks, facilities for loading and storage of petrol as well as the service stations of fuel, must obtain a waste gas emission permit from the competent authority. Permits are granted once the competent authority has ascertained that all necessary measures to protect public health and the environment have been taken and that the best technology available has been used. Under these Regulations the operators of such facilities are required to comply with the emission limit values of volatile organic compounds as defined in the regulations and included such values in the permit. The competent authority with regular and extraordinary inspections shall ensure compliance with the permit conditions and impose penalties where there is a breach of such terms. The Regulations also include the obligation of the competent authority to periodically draw up reports on the control mechanisms of volatile organic compounds from petrol storage and distribution from terminals to service stations and fuel, and send it for information to the European Commission.