Brussels, 15/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Environment Council hopes the EU will speed up the phasing out of mercury in the environment but this is not enough for Sweden, Denmark and Belgium, which are in favour of a new legislative act to accelerate elimination. Although these countries did not stand in the way of the adoption of unanimous Council conclusions on review of Community strategy on mercury, they did, on Monday 14 March in Brussels, adopt a declaration joined to the minutes of the session stating their request in favour of new legislation that would allow the EU to be in the forefront for reaching a total ban on this heavy metal.
In its conclusions, the Council invites the European Commission to step up the pace for examining the question of mercury in dental amalgams, which is the second greatest use of the metal in the EU. It also calls on the Commission to extend its investigations to mercury-containing button cell batteries that are still allowed on the EU market, and to assess the need for further risk management measures. The Council also underlines the importance of minimising mercury exposure to consumers, workers and the environment from mercury-containing lamps (compact fluorescent lamps).
The Council welcomes the significant progress made over the past five years during which time the EU has banned the sale of medical thermometers and other measuring devices containing mercury. Extension of the ban on sales of other medical equipment is currently being examined (via procedures set in place in the context of the REACH regulation on the registration and evaluation of chemical substances) and a ban on mercury exports took effect in the EU on Tuesday 15 March, the day after the Environment Council.
The Council reiterates the need for the EU to continue and intensify its international efforts to reduce mercury emissions and exposure on a global scale with a view to reaching a global phase-out of primary production, preventing surpluses re-entering the market, as well as phasing out its use and trade, taking into account the availability of mercury-free alternatives. It welcomes the international talks by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with a view to developing a legally binding global instrument on mercury. (A.N./transl.jl)