Guidance for the development of National Air Pollution Control Programmes under Directive (EU) 2016/2284

Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, also called the new National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) — (referred to in this document as ‘the Directive’) is designed to further reduce air pollution and its associated risks to the environment and human health (Article 1). The Directive includes, for each Member State, future reduction commitments for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. Compliance with these commitments is also expected to contribute to the Union's long-term objective of achieving levels of air quality in line with the air quality guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Articles 6 and 10 of the Directive require Member States to establish, by 1 April 2019 at the latest, an initial National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP) which must be regularly updated, at least every four years (‘NAPCP updates’). The content of the NAPCP is stipulated by the Directive principally in Article 6 and Annex III Part 1. In accordance with Article 6(10) of the Directive, the Commission has specified the format of the NAPCPs in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1522. 

This guidance, developed in accordance with Article 6(9) of the Directive, aims to support Member States in developing the initial NAPCP to be submitted to the Commission by 1 April 2019. It addresses the format of the NAPCP, the monitoring of progress in its implementation, the consultations on the NAPCP and its dissemination in four corresponding chapters. A toolkit to support consideration and selection of additional policies and measures to comply with emission reduction commitments is set out in the appendix. This guidance may be amended as necessary to support the updates of NAPCPs.