The government has responded to a series of criticisms relayed in a House of Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee report, (published in June 2002), which disapproved of its handling of the European fridge disposal Regulation.
Within today’s government response, Disposal of Refrigerators Government’s Reply to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2001-02, the government acknowledges it signed up to the regulation while still suffering from “knowledge gaps” about the full impact and clear understanding of what it meant.
Response
The Committee criticised the government’s ill-prepared stance towards meeting with fridge disposal regulations brought in towards the end of 2001, stating: “In light of reports circulating towards the end of 2001, the UK was ill-equipped to implement a new EU Regulation on Ozone Depleting Substances, and building up as a result of what was described as 'f;ridge mountains'.”
In conclusion, the Committee report said although the European Commission must accept some of the blame for lack of clarity, the “overwhelming responsibility for mishandling the implementation of Regulation 2037/2000 lies with the Government.” But again, the government defended its position, stating that it: “categorically denies that it mishandled the implementation of the Regulation.”
Details of report
The Committee report also slammed the government over its “judgement” relating to the categorisation of foam, as well as criticising the government for arguing over what it saw as “semantics” in regards to the phrasing of part of the Regulation.
The Committee said that: “Government officials initially made a judgement that insulating foam within fridges fell under Article 16(3) not Article 16(2); they then argued about the semantics of the phrase 'if practicable' when in fact the practicality of dealing with the foam was abundantly demonstrated by practice in other European countries.”
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