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The list below is an extract from the French and European official gazettes concerning the environment, energy and health and safety at work in November 2024.
ENVIRONMENT
Definition of requirements relating to best available techniques for certain classified installations subject to authorization
Arrêté du 4 novembre 2024 relatif aux meilleures techniques disponibles (MTD) applicables aux installations du secteur de la chimie relevant du régime de l'autorisation au titre de l'une au moins des rubriques suivantes de la nomenclature des installations classées pour la protection de l'environnement : 3410 à 3460, ou 3710 lorsque la charge polluante principale provient d'une ou plusieurs installations relevant de l'une au moins des rubriques 3410 à 3460 [JORF du 19 novembre 2024].
This decree defines the requirements applicable to the following headings:
- Heading 3410: manufacture of organic chemicals ;
- Heading 3420: manufacture of inorganic chemicals ;
- Heading 3430: manufacture of fertilizers ;
- Heading 3440: manufacture of phytosanitary or biocidal products ;
- Heading 3450: manufacture of pharmaceutical products ;
- Heading 3460: manufacture of explosives ;
- Heading 3710: wastewater treatment in stand-alone plants falling under heading 2750, where the main pollutant load comes from one or more plants falling under at least one of the headings 3410 to 3460.
This decree also applies to the combined treatment of aqueous effluents from different sources, provided that the main pollutant load results from one or more installations falling under at least one of the above-mentioned headings 3410 to 3460, and that the treatment of aqueous effluents is not covered by Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment.
Application of the obligation to install shading systems incorporating a renewable energy production process for parking lots over 1,500 m².
Decree no. 2024-1023 of November 13, 2024 implementing article 40 of law no. 2023-175 of March 10, 2023 on the acceleration of renewable energy production [JORF of November 15, 2024].
As a reminder, Article 40 of Law no. 2023-175 of March 10, 2023 on the acceleration of renewable energy production (known as the "APER Law") requires parking lots of over 1,500 m² to install shading systems incorporating a renewable energy production process for at least half of this surface area.
This decree mainly clarifies the calculation of the surface area of parking facilities concerned, the criteria for exemptions from the obligation, and the conditions for applying penalties in the event of failure to meet this obligation.
When calculating the surface area to be retained, the following must be taken into account :
- parking spaces for vehicles and their trailers, located off the public highway, within a perimeter between the park's entrance(s) and exit(s);
- traffic lanes and paths, facilities and toll areas providing access to these sites, within the same perimeter, must be taken into account.
On the other hand, the following should be excluded:
- green spaces, rest areas ;
- storage, logistics, handling, loading and unloading areas;
- areas where vehicles carrying dangerous goods are parked (specified by decree);
- parts located less than 10 meters from ICPEs (whose headings are listed by decree);
- the surface areas required to implement the requirements applicable to ICPEs (specified by decree).
With regard to exemption criteria, the decree defines three main types of exemption: technical constraints and impossibilities, heritage constraints and economic constraints. The benefit of these exemptions must be justified by the production of a certificate, the content of which is set out in the text.
New obligation to analyze PFAS in atmospheric emissions from incineration, co-incineration and other thermal waste treatment plants
Arrêté du 31 octobre 2024 relatif à l'analyse des substances per- et polyfluoroalkylées dans les émissions atmosphériques des installations d'incinération, de co-incinération et d'autres traitements thermiques de déchets [JORF du 10 novembre 2024] [Decree of October 31, 2024 on the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances in atmospheric emissions from waste incineration, co-incineration and other thermal treatment facilities].
This decree applies to authorized installations classified under at least one of the headings 2770, 2771, 2971 and 3520 of the nomenclature of classified installations.
Operators of the facilities concerned must carry out a sampling and analysis campaign covering 49 PFAS substances, as well as hydrogen fluoride (HF) and the main associated peripheral parameters (flow rate, oxygen content, temperature, pressure and water vapor content). These samples and analyses are carried out by COFRAC-accredited laboratories or organizations, using standardized reference measurement methods where available.
Please note: The operator is exempt from this obligation if he can demonstrate that the composition of the waste streams entering the facility is stable over time, and that the incoming waste does not contain PFAS substances.
The campaign must be implemented before October 31, 2025, April 30, 2026, October 31, 2026, April 30, 2027 or April 30, 2028, depending on the ICPE nomenclature heading, authorized capacity and nature of the facility concerned.
SAFETY
Changes in harmonized classification and labeling rules
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 16, 2008 on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures AMENDED BY Regulation (EU) 2024/2865 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 23, 2024 amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures [OJEU November 18, 2024].
This regulation creates a new chapter on labeling, which mainly clarifies the labeling elements and the deadline for updating labels in the event of a classification change involving the addition of a new hazard class or a more stringent classification.
This regulation also takes into account the amendment made by regulation 2023/707 of December 19, 2022 concerning the addition of new hazard classes. Among other things, it specifies that a substance which meets certain criteria (set out in Annex I) for the following new hazards is generally subject to harmonized classification and labeling:
- endocrine disruption for human health, category 1 or 2;
- endocrine disruption in the environment, category 1 or 2 ;
- persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) properties ;
- very persistent, very bioaccumulative (vPvB) ;
- persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) properties ;
- very persistent, very mobile properties (vPvM).
Other provisions spell out the requirements for the assessment of a complex substance by the manufacturer, importer or downstream user, for supply via recharging stations and for placing on the European market.
All these provisions will come into force on different dates. Nevertheless, from December 10, 2024, substances and mixtures can be classified, labeled and packaged in accordance with the new version of CLP, with regard to the following subjects: dimensions and presentation of label elements / product identifier of a mixture and the characteristics of the markings of the label elements / information on the constituents of the mixture.
Corrections to concentration unit errors for certain REACH substances
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 18, 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) AMENDED BY Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2929 of November 27, 2024 correcting the French version of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the concentration levels of certain substances [OJEU of November 28, 2024].
This regulation rectifies the denomination of concentration units for certain substances. The unit "ppM" (part per billion) has been replaced by "ppb" (part per billion, an international unit). This concerns restrictions on the following substances:
- linear and branched perfluorocarboxylic acids with a chain length of between 9 and 14 carbon atoms (known as C9-C14 PFCAs);
- silanetriol (3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl) and all its mono-, di- or tri-O-(alkyl) derivatives (TDFA).
Repeal of the new models for fitness notices, unfitness notices, individual health monitoring attestations and workstation accommodation proposals
Arrêté du 16 octobre 2017 fixant le modèle d'avis d'aptitude, d'avis d'inaptitude, d'attestation de suivi individuel de l'état de santé et de proposition de mesures d'aménagement de poste MODIFIÉ PAR l'arrêté du 5 novembre 2024 abrogeant l'arrêté du 26 septembre 2024 modifiant l'arrêté du 16 octobre 2017 fixant le modèle d'avis d'aptitude, notice of unfitness, certificate of individual health monitoring and proposal for workstation adjustment measures [JORF of November 21, 2024].
In order to take into account the changes brought about by Law no. 2021-1018 of August 2, 2021 to strengthen occupational health prevention, an order dated September 26, 2024 updated the models for aptitude notices, unfitness notices, individual health monitoring certificates and proposed workstation adjustment measures with four new models. Due to deployment difficulties, these new notices have been repealed. They are therefore no longer to be taken into account.