P. M. BRIEFING : European Community Adopts U.S. Auto Pollution Control Standards
The European Community agreed today to impose tough U.S. pollution controls on all new small cars sold in the 12-nation trading bloc from 1993.
An EC spokesman said the controls, which involve fitting three-way catalytic converters and electronic fuel injection systems, will apply to all new models from July 1, 1992, and to all new small cars from Dec. 31, 1992.
The controls are expected to add around 7% to the price of the cars, which make up two-thirds of those driven in the EC and are defined as having engines smaller than 1.4 liters.
“This is a big victory for the environment,” Dutch Environment Minister Ed Najpels told reporters.
The agreement was reached after the pollution-conscious Dutch and West Germans won the right for all EC states to offer limited tax incentives for buyers of “clean cars” before the controls become compulsory. Britain, France and Italy had wanted to stick to 1993, the date originally proposed by the European Commission.
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