THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases(1), and in particular Article 5(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 2006/40/EC relating to emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC(2) provides for the mandatory introduction of air-conditioning systems with low global warming potential to motor vehicles as of 2011. As a short-term measure, Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 requires to lay down rules on the appropriate qualification of personnel recovering fluorinated greenhouse gases from such systems.
(2) Personnel enrolled in a training course for the purpose of obtaining a training attestation should be, for a limited time, allowed to undertake activities covered by the training course and for which a training attestation is required, provided that they are supervised by personnel holding such an attestation.
(3) To enable training and attestation of personnel currently active in the areas covered by this Regulation without interrupting their professional activity, an adequate interim period is required during which personnel trained under existing qualification schemes or with professional experience may be considered as appropriately qualified for the purpose of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006.
(4) For the purpose of avoiding undue administrative burden, it should be allowed to recognise existing qualification schemes provided that the skills and knowledge covered, and the relevant qualification system are equivalent to the minimum standards envisaged by this Regulation.
(5) Officially designated attestation bodies should ensure compliance with the minimum requirements set out in this Regulation and thereby contribute to the effective and efficient mutual recognition of training attestations throughout the Community.
(6) Information on the attestation systems issuing attestations subject to mutual recognition should be notified to the Commission in the format established by Commission Regulation (EC) No 308/2008 of 2 April 2008 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the format for notification of the training and certification programmes of the Member States(3). Information on the recognition of existing qualification systems or professional experience, for an interim period, should be notified to the Commission.
(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 18(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council(4),
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
See page 28 of this Official Journal.
OJ L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Decision 2007/540/EC (OJ L 198, 31.7.2007, p. 35).