Brussels, 20/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Monday 20 December, EU environment ministers reached first reading political agreement on the proposal seeking to put in place more stringent marketing authorisation rules and rules for the use of biocidal products in the EU, and putting in place a harmonised EU procedure for the authorisation for these anti-parasitic products by the Helsinki-based European Chemicals Agency (see EUROPE 10280). This is a victory for health and environmental protection, and for the Belgian Presidency which has brought the curtain down with the thanks of the delegations ringing in its ears for the progress it has achieved. Most of the 27 member states felt that a balance had been found between the high level of public health and environmental requirements and limiting the administrative burden for companies.
Agreement was by qualified majority. Denmark, without opposing the text, put down a statement to be included in the minutes of the meeting indicating that it would have liked member states to have the possibility of banning certain biocides. Austria abstained for two reasons: it feels that the simplified authorisation procedure for some less dangerous products is “a backward step” as the risks these products represent for health and for the environment will not be evaluated; and it further regrets that inclusion of products treated with biocidal products within the scope of the regulation “is not based on science”, and it is looking for these “weak points” to be remedied during the second reading. Poland welcomed this progress on a draft regulation which will give consumers “products which are more thoroughly evaluated and member states a certain amount of room for manoeuvre”. It also called for the timetable to be met so that the new regulation can come into force on 1 January 2013 as planned.
Spain congratulated the Belgian Presidency for having concluded this agreement, but it nevertheless felt that “the Commission should explain to us why 150 people are needed in Helsinki”. The second reading is scheduled for summer 2011, under Hungarian presidency, said outgoing Council President Joke Schauvliege. (A.N./transl.rt)