Recital 1

(1)The fifth Environment Action Programme: Towards sustainability — A European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development, supplemented by Decision No 2179/98/EC on its review ⁵, sets as an objective that critical loads and levels of certain pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO x ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), heavy metals and dioxins should not be exceeded, while in terms of air quality the objective is that all people should be effectively protected against recognised health risks from air pollution. That Programme further sets as an objective a 90 % reduction of dioxin emissions of identified sources by 2005 (1985 level) and at least 70 % reduction from all pathways of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) emissions in 1995.