Editorial note

Directive 2002/3/EC of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air requires Member States to take action in order to ensure effective protection from harmful effects on human health from exposure to ozone. The main purpose of this Directive is to establish long-term objectives, target values, an alert threshold and an information threshold for concentration of ozone in ambient air (Article 1). Ambient air means outdoor air in the troposphere, excluding the work place (Article 2(1)).

Target values for 2010 in respect of ozone concentrations in ambient air are set out in Section II of Annex I (Article 3(1)). The Directive requires Member States to draw up a list of zones and agglomerations (zones with certain population density) where the levels of ozone in ambient air are higher than the target values, and ensure a plan is implemented in order to attain the target value (Article 3(2) and (3)). The long-term objectives for ozone concentrations in ambient air are set out in Section III of Annex I (Article 4(1)). Member States are to draw up a list of zones and agglomerations where the levels of ozone in ambient air are higher than the long-term objectives, but below or equal to the target values set out in Section II of Annex I, and implement cost-effective measures with the aim of achieving the long-term measures (Article 4(1)). In zones and agglomerations where ozone levels meet the long-term objectives, Member States must maintain the levels of ozone below the long-term objectives and preserve the best ambient air quality (Article 5).