Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Under the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, the federal State is organising a top level event on the 23 and 24 September 2010, dealing with the contribution of the products policy to the fight against indoor air pollution.

While outdoor sources contribute to indoor air pollution, most of the indoor air pollutants are chemical substances released, for example, during the use of cleaning products, deodorants, biocides or emitted by furniture and building or renovation materials.

The potential effects on health of poor indoor air quality are numerous. Joint action referring both to renewal of the air and to the reduction of polluting emissions should allow these effects to be reduced over a period of time.

Defining a preventive products policy based on prescriptive legislation to limit emissions is necessary. It must be more concise and clearer and must promote changes in our methods of consumption and in our behaviour.

Management of the sources of indoor pollution must be considered within a wider policy. Belgium wishes to develop the part concerning products and consumption in order to contribute to the preparation of a harmonised framework of management of the indoor environment. This will be done fully in accordance with the environmental, public health, housing, energy and sustainable development legislations.

The aim is to prepare a statement of current technical and scientific knowledge, to draw up an inventory of policies and initiatives relating to product emissions associated with indoor air quality and to identify gaps in the policies of the Union and of its Member States.
Emphasis will be placed in particular on building materials, given that work is currently being done in this field both at European level and in certain Member States.

All presentations: 

Session 1 

Session 2 

Session 3 

Session 4