F1Article 6Release reduction, minimisation and elimination
1.
The Secretary of State must maintain the inventory relating to the United Kingdom which was drawn up in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 for the substances listed in Annex 3 to this Regulation released into air, water and land in accordance with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Convention and the Protocol.
2.
The Secretary of State must review and update the United Kingdom’s action plan on measures to identify, characterise and minimise, with a view to eliminating where feasible as soon as possible, the total releases of substances listed in Annex 3, in accordance with Article 7(1)(c) of the Convention.
3.
The relevant authority must, when considering proposals to construct new facilities or to significantly modify existing facilities using processes that release chemicals listed in Annex 3, give priority consideration to alternative processes, techniques or practices that have similar usefulness but which avoid the formation and release of substances listed in Annex 3.
This does not limit the effect of the Permitting Regulations.
4.
In paragraph 3, “relevant authority” means—
(a)
in relation to England and Wales, the authority responsible for discharging functions in accordance with regulation 32 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016;
(b)
in relation to Scotland, SEPA.