Changes from adopted text to adopted text

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 2 – point a: (a) in case of an emergency or malfunction.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 2 – point b: deleted

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 3 – introductory part: 3. In addition to paragraph 2, point (a), venting and flaring shall only be allowed in the following specific situations where venting or flaring, as applicable, cannot be completely eliminated or is necessary for safety reasons:

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 3 – point a: (a) during normal operations of pneumatic devices and pumps, dry gas seals, compressors, atmospheric pressure storage tanks, or other components designed to vent, provided that the equipment meets all the specified equipment standards established pursuant to paragraph 5b, and is properly maintained and regularly inspected to minimise methane losses;

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 3 – point c: (c) during gauging or sampling a storage tank or other low-pressure vessel, provided that the tank or vessel meets the standards established pursuant to paragraph 5b;

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 3 – point d: (d) during loading out liquids from a storage tank or other low-pressure vessel to a transport vehicle in compliance with applicable standards, provided that the tank or vessel meets the standards established pursuant to paragraph 5b;

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 3 – point e: (e) during repair, maintenance, test procedures and decommissioning, including blowing down and depressurizing equipment to perform repair and maintenance;

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 4: 4. Where venting is allowed pursuant to paragraph 2, operators shall vent only where flaring is not technically feasible due to lack of flammability, inability to sustain a flame, safety concerns, when the environmental or climate impact of mitigation measures is higher than the benefit, or when it risks endangering safety of operations or personnel. In such a situation, as part of the reporting obligations set out in Article 16, operators shall demonstrate to the competent authorities the necessity to opt for venting instead of flaring.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 4 a (new): 4a. Where non-emitting alternative equipment is available to the equipment that vents, it shall replace that equipment by 31 December 2026, provided that the non-venting equipment meets the standards established pursuant to paragraph 5b.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 5: 5. In addition to the conditions set out in paragraph 2, flaring shall only be allowed where either re-injection, utilisation on-site, gas processing, or dispatch of the methane to a market are not feasible for reasons other than economic considerations. In such a situation, as part of the reporting obligations set out in Article 16, operators shall demonstrate to the competent authorities the necessity to opt for flaring instead of either re-injection, utilisation on-site or dispatch of the methane to market.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 5 a (new): 5a. Where a site is built, replaced or refurbished, in whole or in part, operators shall utilise only zero-emitting pneumatic controllers and pumps on that site.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 5 b (new): 5b. By... [24 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 31 to supplement this Regulation by incorporating and setting out the applicability of technology standards for venting, zero-emitting and flaring equipment. The Commission shall be empowered to revise such delegated acts in line with technological developments.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 5 c (new): 5c. Where the implementation of this Article requires a permit or any other administrative approval from relevant authorities, or where the lack of available venting or flaring equipment causes an exceptional delay in actions necessary for that implementation, operators shall provide the competent authorities with a detailed schedule for that implementation. Operators shall proceed to implement without delay. The competent authorities may request modifications of the schedule.

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a: (a) caused by an emergency, a malfunction or;

RemovedArticle 17 – paragraph 1: 1. Operators shall install all flare stacks that uses combustion devices with an auto-igniter or continuous pilot and at least 99% destruction and removal efficiency for hydrocarbons by ...[18 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation].

RemovedArticle 17 – paragraph 2: deleted

RemovedArticle 17 – paragraph 3: 3. Operators shall conduct weekly inspections of flare stacks in accordance with the elements set out in Annex III. As an alternative to weekly inspections of a flare stack, operators may use remote or automated continuous monitoring devices, if approved by competent authorities, to collect the observations of the flare stack referred to in points (i) and (ii) of the third subparagraph of Annex III. Where irregularities are detected, operators shall investigate the cause of the irregularity and remedy it within 6 hours or, in the case of bad weather or other extreme conditions, within 24 hours.

RemovedArticle 18 – paragraph 1: 1. By...[ six months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], Member States shall establish and make publicly available an inventory of all inactive wells and permanently plugged and abandoned wells on their territory or under their jurisdiction, including at least the elements set out in Annex IV.

RemovedArticle 18 – paragraph 2: deleted

RemovedArticle 18 – paragraph 3: 3. Reports containing information on quantification of methane emissions to air and water, as applicable, from all wells referred to in paragraph 1 shall be submitted to the competent authorities by … [18 months of the date of entry into force of this Regulation] and by 30 March every year thereafter and cover the last available calendar year. / Where the competent authorities are provided with reliable evidence that proves that there are no methane emissions from permanently plugged and abandoned wells within the last five years, the reporting obligation set out in this paragraph shall not apply to that well. / Before submission to the competent authorities, the reports set out in this paragraph shall be assessed by a verifier and include a verification statement issued in accordance with Articles 8 and 9.

RemovedArticle 18 – paragraph 4: 4. The competent authorities shall make the reports set out in this Article available to the public and the Commission, within three months from submission and in accordance with Article 5(4).

RemovedArticle 18 – paragraph 5: 5. Member States shall be responsible for fulfilling the obligations laid down in paragraphs 2, except where a responsible party can be identified, in which case that party shall bear responsibility.

RemovedArticle 18 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1: By ...[12 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation] Member States or the responsible party shall develop a mitigation plan to remediate, reclaim and permanently plug inactive wells located in their territory, and implement it by... [24 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation].

RemovedArticle 18 – paragraph 6 a (new): 6 a. When identifying inactive, permanently plugged and abandoned wells, Member States shall undertake a robust and objective assessment based on the most up to date scientific findings, including data from IMEO).

RemovedArticle 19 – paragraph 2 – point c: (c) methane emissions occurring during post-mining activities and within the area of the mine.

RemovedArticle 20 – paragraph 1: 1. For underground coal mines, mine operators shall perform continuous source level methane direct emissions measurement and quantification on all exhaust ventilation shafts. Mine operators shall report to the competent authorities methane releases per ventilation shaft per year in kilotonne (kt) of methane, using equipment and methodologies resulting in a measurement accuracy with a tolerance of 0,5 kt/year of methane or of 5% of the reported amount. They shall also take monthly sample-based measurements.

RemovedArticle 20 – paragraph 2: 2. Drainage stations operators shall perform continuous source level direct emissions measurements and quantification of total releases of vented and flared methane, regardless of the reasons for such venting and flaring activity.

RemovedArticle 20 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2: As regards continuous source level direct measurements and quantification referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, where part of the measuring equipment is not operating for a period, readings taken during periods when the equipment was operating may be used to estimate data on a pro rata basis for the period that the equipment was not operating.

RemovedArticle 20 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3: The equipment used for continuous source level direct measurements and quantification referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall operate for more than 90% of the period for which it is used to monitor an emission, excluding downtime taken for re-calibration.

RemovedArticle 20 – paragraph 5: 5. Where relevant, mine operators shall estimate coal post-mining emissions using coal post-mining emission factors, updated annually, based on deposit-specific coal samples and in accordance with appropriate scientific standards.

RemovedArticle 22 – paragraph 1: 1. Flaring with a destruction and removal design efficiency below 99% and venting of methane from drainage system shall be prohibited from 1 January 2025, except in the case of an emergency or where unavoidable and strictly necessary for maintenance. In such cases, drainage station operators shall vent only if flaring is not technically feasible or risks endangering safety of operations or personnel. In such a situation, as part of the reporting obligations set out in Article 23, drainage station operators shall demonstrate to the competent authorities the necessity to opt for venting instead of flaring.

RemovedArticle 22 – paragraph 2: 2. Venting of methane through ventilation shafts in coal mines emitting more than five tonnes of methane/kilotonne of coal mined , other than coking coal mines, shall be prohibited from 1 January 2027, except where it would pose a direct threat to the health and life of working miners and would increase the work-safety risk in mining plants. / Venting of methane through ventilation shafts in coal mines emitting more than three tonnes of methane/kilotonne of coal mined, other than coking coal mines, shall be prohibited from 1 January 2031. / These thresholds shall apply per year per mine and per operator, if one entity operates several mines.

RemovedArticle 22 – paragraph 3 a (new): 3a. Where Member States intend to implement a dedicated system of incentives to reduce methane emissions, they may use fees, charges or penalties as referred to in Article 30 as an instrument of guaranteeing the compliance of operators of existing mines with the obligations in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article.

RemovedArticle 23 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part: From 1 January 2025, drainage station operators shall notify the competent authorities of all venting events and flaring events with a destruction and removal design efficiency below 99%.

RemovedArticle 23 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a: (a) caused by an emergency,

RemovedArticle 24 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: This Section applies to the following methane emissions from closed and abandoned and closed underground coal mines where coal production has been discontinued:

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 1: 1. By … [12 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation] Member States shall set up and make publicly available an inventory of all underground and abandoned coal mines in their territory or under their jurisdiction, in accordance with the methodology and including at least the elements set out in Part 1 of Annex VII.

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. When identifying closed mines and abandoned coal mines, Member States shall undertake a robust and objective assessment based on the most up- to- date scientific findings, including data from the IMEO when available;

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1: deleted

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2: From … [18 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], measurement equipment shall be installed on all elements listed in point (v) of Part 1 of Annex VII which were found to emit above 0,5 tonnes of methane per year based on the inventory referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article for closed coal mines and abandoned coal mines.

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new): The equipment shall perform source level direct measurements or quantifications taken in accordance with appropriate scientific standards and, if possible on an hourly basis, and of sufficient quality to allow for a representative estimation of yearly methane emissions from all elements listed in Part 1, point (v) of Annex VII which were found to emit methane.

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3: deleted

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2a. If the observed annual methane release of an element listed in Part 1, point (v) of Annex VII is below 1 tonne of methane for six consecutive years in the case of flooded mines or 12 consecutive years in the case of dry mines, no further monitoring and reporting shall be taken for that specific element.

RemovedArticle 25 – paragraph 4: 4. Mine operators, asset operators or Member States shall be responsible for the requirements referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 as regards closed mines. Member States shall be responsible for the requirements referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 as regards abandoned mines.

RemovedArticle 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1: On the basis of the inventory referred to in Article 25, Member States shall develop and implement a mitigation plan to address methane emissions from closed and abandoned underground coal mines.

RemovedArticle 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: The mitigation plan shall be submitted to competent authorities by … [18 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation] and include at least the elements set out in Part 4 of Annex VII. The Member States shall implement it by... [2 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation].

RemovedArticle 26 – paragraph 2: 2. Venting and flaring from equipment referred to in Article 25(2) shall be prohibited from 1 January 2030, unless utilisation or mitigation is not technically feasible or risks endangering environmental safety, or human safety, including that of the personnel, or public health. In such a situation, as part of the reporting obligations set out in Article 25, mine operators or Member States shall demonstrate the necessity to opt for venting or flaring instead of utilisation or mitigation.

RemovedArticle 26 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2a. For closed coal mines: / (a) capturing methane by degassing shall be possible; / (b) the use of safety-relevant degassing devices, e.g. vent hoods (Protegohaube), may continued to be operated; / (c) the use of mine gas as an energy resource shall not be affected by the scope of application of this Regulation; / (d) impoundment of mine water to reduce methane emissions shall be allowed under this Regulation.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: The Commission shall adopt a delegated act by 31 December 2025 in accordance with Article 31 to supplement this Regulation by amending or adding to the information to be provided by importers.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2a. As of 1 January 2026, importers of coal, oil and gas, shall demonstrate that exporters of coal, oil and gas into the Union comply with the requirements for the measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification, leak detection and repair, and venting and flaring established in Chapters 3 and 4 of this Regulation or otherwise meet the requirements for derogations set out in paragraph 2b of this Article.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 2 b (new): 2b. Importers that demonstrate the implementation of measures deemed comparable in effectiveness or provide guarantees of origin from countries deemed to have regulatory equivalence shall be subject to a derogation from paragraphs 2a, in accordance with paragraph 2c.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 2 c (new): 2c. Where importers claim a derogation provided for in paragraph 2b, they shall notify the Commission and provide all required information. The Commission shall assess the applicability of a derogation taking into account: / (a) the effectiveness of the measures or regulatory requirements compared to those applicable within the Union; / (b) the accuracy of the data provided by importers; and / (c) penalties for non-compliance and effectiveness of enforcement in the relevant jurisdictions where regulatory equivalence is sought.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 2 d (new): 2d. The Commission shall adopt a delegated act by 31 December 2025 in accordance with Article 31 to supplement this Regulation with both the modalities and the procedures for importers claiming a derogation under paragraph 2c, and the specific requirements for demonstrating comparable in effectiveness and regulatory equivalence, including establishing the necessary role of IMEO to ensure the quality control, referred to in paragraph 2b.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 2 e (new): 2e. Member States shall ensure that importers who place on the market coal, oil and gas, comply with this Article within their territory. Member States shall set out progressive penalties for infringements, including the suspension of the authorisation to place oil, gas and coal on the market as referred to in Article 30, taking into account the need for effective deterrence of breaches.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 2 f (new): 2f. Where importers fail to provide the information referred to in paragraphs 1, 2a and 2b, but can demonstrate to the competent authorities of the importing Member States that all reasonable endeavours have been undertaken to acquire such information, Member States may consider reducing or not imposing penalties on importers as referred to in paragraph 2e.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part: By 31 December 2025, or earlier if the Commission considers that sufficient evidence is available, the Commission shall propose amendments to this Regulation to strengthen the requirements applicable to importers with a view to implementing upstream performance standards for methane emissions on all fossil gas and oil imports equivalent to the methane emissions intensity referred to in Article 13 and a commensurate standard for coal imports.

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point a: deleted

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point b: deleted

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c: deleted

RemovedArticle 27 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d: (d) When proposing amendments to this Regulation as referred to in the first subparagraph, the Commission shall particularly assess the implications for the climate, the security of supply of the Union and the level playing field. implications in case of possible additional obligations, including mandatory measures such as methane emission standards or targets. The Commission may also take taking into account the oil, gas and coal sectors separately.