§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has made into the preparation by other EU states to meet the latest EU regulations on the disposal of old refrigerators and freezers, with special reference to the equipment obtained. [34837]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 11 February 2002]: The Department has made inquiries via the British embassies. Five member states appear to have sufficient treatment facilities to deal with all their fridges. It appears that four, like the UK, are complying with the regulations as they have plant operating which can partly meet their requirements and are exporting the remaining fridges. Five member states do not appear to have plants currently which can remove CFCs from insulation foam and are either storing or exporting them, or do not meet the regulation.