2. Background to restrictive measures

2.1 The 20th century paradigm: prevention and eco-design

• 1975: the first pollution prevention rules

  Directive 75/442 of July 15, 1975 on waste in general is the first building block in the edifice built by Europe to provide a framework for waste management in the Member States in order to :

  • protect human health and the environment;

  • avoid barriers to trade within the European Union's single market (i.e. prevent a country from refusing to import into its territory a product that does not comply with the environmental rules it has chosen);

  • have polluters finance the costs of environmental protection.

  ...