SOFIA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's Minister of Environment and Water Neno Dimov said here on Thursday that the preparation of measures to reduce air pollution in the country was under way.
Fine particulate matter (PM10) is a major problem in air pollution in urban areas in Bulgaria, Dimov said while addressing a conference on air quality.
Experts in his ministry and other agencies worked in two directions to solve the issue, he said.
The first one was to develop criteria for the quality of solid fuels for home heating, so that they have a lower sulfur and ash content, Dimov said.
The second direction was the introduction of measures against air pollution from road transport, in particular stricter control of harmful emissions at the initial registration of vehicles, the minister said.
"Our goal is to invest preventively in people's health," Dimov said.
In addition, the measures were aimed at reducing PM10 emissions in view of the recent judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), he added.
This April, the CJEU judged that Bulgaria has exceeded the daily and annual limit values for PM10 concentrations systematically and continuously from 2007 until 2014, and failed to fulfill its obligations on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.
According to data from Bulgaria's government, from 50 to 60 percent of the population uses wood and coal for heating, and most of the cars are outdated.
