EU Noise Legislation
EU noise policy aims to monitor and tackle environmental noise in Europe to help achieve the zero-pollution vision for 2050. The environmental noise emissions in the agglomerations , from the Industry, Road, Rail and air traffic is considered to be a significant local problem in Europe. It is estimated that millions of people suffer from noise levels that scientists and health experts consider unacceptable. The limitation of noise from transportation, Industry and certain types of equipment is a necessary step towards reducing noise pollution in the European Community. The main focus of European Union noise policy is on noise abatement through the use of technical standards for products.
Several pieces of legislation were enacted for the management of noise from: motor vehicles, motorcycles, tyres, aeroplanes, household appliances and outdoor equipment.
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​Legislation for the management of aircraft noise :
Directive 2002/30/EC - Directive 83/206/EEC - Directive 89/629/EEC- Directive 92/14/EEC - Directive 2006/93/EC
Directive for the management of transport noise:
Directive 70/157 (1970) relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles
Directive 77/311 (1977)Relating to the driver- perceived noise level of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors
Directive 2002/49/EC- Relating to the reducing of the noise from the Industry, Road, Rail and air traffic
Directive 2007/37EC type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers
Directive 2002/24/EC Directive type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles
Directive 2001/43/EC Tyre Noise: legal requirements
Directive 92/23/EEC Tyre Noise Test and Wet Grip Test
Other Directives
Directive 2005/88/EC Equipment for Use Outdoors
Regulations:
168/2013 Placement on the market of motor cycles and the sound level of the silencing system
540/2014 Placement on the market of motor vehicles and the replacement of the sound level of the silencing system
Were the EU objectives achieved?
The Directive (END), was enacted on the 25th June 2002. Yet, Noise pollution is a growing global problem. As populations increase, so do the noise levels that form the urban soundscape.
The objective of the Directive is to protect the health and well-being of the those living in the agglomeration, from the road, rail and air traffic noise. Nevertheless, there are other noise sources in the urban areas. For instance, in Malta, the most predominant includes: construction and leisure activities.
Should the noise from these and other sources be included in the Noise mapping and Noise action plan?
The European environment agencies comments as follows :
In some countries, the END noise maps and action plans are merely to monitor noise trends and inform the public. There are no legally binding consequences or noise measures that are taken as a result of the END.
There has been limited evidence until now that the noise level threshold is being enforced effectively.
EEA’s : About 18 million people suffer long-term annoyance from transport noise in the European Union (EU). The European Commission’s zero pollution action aims to reduce the number of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30% by 2030, compared to 2017 levels. According to the European Environment Agency’s assessment, published today, reaching this target is unlikely without further regulatory or legislative changes, mainly due to the difficulty in reducing the large number of people exposed to noise from road traffic.
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/outlook-to-2030/outlook-to-2030-can-the
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