he European Parliament on Wednesday approved tighter limits on the amount of pollution industrial plants can emit, but simultaneously said that not all plants would have to meet them, DPA reported
The European Union is keen to reduce atmospheric pollution, both to fight against climate change and to protect the environment more generally.
Wednesday's decision effectively streamlines seven laws on environmental protection into one.
The goal of the decision is "clearer rules and cleaner air," the parliament said in a statement after the decision, which passed with 639 votes in favour and 35 against.
The main impact of the legislation is to tighten restrictions on emissions of gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are linked to acid rain and of dust from an estimated 52,000 "industrial" installations, from power stations to pig farms.
Those restrictions are to take effect from 2016 to give industrial players time to adapt.
However, members of the parliament (MEPs) allowed EU states to bring in "transitional national plans" which would allow large polluters, including oil- and coal-fired power stations, to stick to earlier and looser standards until 2020.
EU member states had originally demanded that heavy polluters be allowed to ignore the new rules until 2024.
"It is a European tragedy that a number of outdated coal-fired power plants will be allowed to pollute for another decade. This is also grossly unfair on the member states who took early action to meet the requirements," said German Liberal MEP Holger Krahmer, who led the parliament's analysis of the legislation.
The law as approved by MEPs was drawn up in negotiation with member states. National ministers are now expected to rubber-stamp the decision later this year.
European Parliament tightens pollution limits, but leaves loopholes
