Release reduction, minimisation and elimination
Article 6
1. Within two years of the date of entry into force of this Regulation or Regulation (EC) No 850/2004, whichever date came first, Member States shall draw up inventories for the substances listed in Annex III released into air, water and land in accordance with their obligations under the Convention and the Protocol and shall subsequently maintain such inventories. 2. Member States shall communicate their action plans on measures to identify, characterise and minimise, with a view to eliminating where feasible as soon as possible, the total releases of substances listed in Annex III as recorded in their inventories drawn up in accordance with their obligations under the Convention, to the Commission, the Agency and to the other Member States as part of their national implementation plans, pursuant to Article 9. Such action plans shall include measures to promote the development of, and, where it is considered appropriate, shall require the use of substitute or modified substances, mixtures, articles and processes to prevent the formation and release of substances listed in Annex III. 3. Member States shall, when considering proposals to construct new facilities or to significantly modify existing facilities using processes that release chemicals listed in Annex III, give priority consideration to alternative processes, techniques or practices that have similar usefulness but which avoid the formation and release of substances listed in Annex III, without prejudice to Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 23 ) .