02/05/2023 (Agence Europe) – A public consultation launched by the European Commission at the end of April is open until 26 May with a view to transposing the Minamata Convention on Mercury by further restricting the use and trade of this heavy metal that is highly toxic to health and the environment. From 1 January 2026, the Commission intends to extend the list of mercury products whose export, import and manufacture are banned in the EU. All interested parties are invited to comment on a draft delegated regulation amending EU Regulation 2017/852 for this purpose. Adoption of the text is scheduled for the fourth quarter. Once in force, this delegated regulation will contribute to the global phase-out of mercury use and ensure a level playing field, in particular for EU lamp producers. Link to the consultation: https://aeur.eu/f/6mw (AN)