With the purpose of aligning the Cypriot legislation with Council Directive 1999/13/EC on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations, the present Regulations aim to prevent or reduce the direct or indirect effects of emissions of volatile organic compounds in the environment, mainly into the atmosphere, and to reduce the potential risks to human health through measures and procedures that should apply to activities (specified in these Regulations) being performed beyond certain limits values as defined in these Regulations. In general, these Regulations provide that activities or facilities that consume organic solvents beyond a certain limit, must obtain a gas waste emissions permit by the competent authority. Permits are granted once the competent authority has ascertained that all necessary measures to protect public health and the environment have been taken and that the best technology available has been used. Under these Regulations the operator of the facility is required to comply with the emission limit values of volatile organic compounds as defined in the regulations and included such figures in the permit. The competent authority with regular and extraordinary inspections shall ensure compliance with the permit conditions and impose penalties where there is a breach of such terms. The Regulations also include the obligation of the competent authority to prepare a three-year basis report, regarding the implementation of the provisions and send it for information purposes to the European Commission.