Brussels, 30/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a proposal to ban the marketing and use of a chemical flame retardant, pentaBDE, from 1 July 2003. Once adopted by the European Parliament and by the Council, the proposal will amend and strengthen 1976 Directive 76/769/EEC on dangerous substances.
PentaBDE is a brominated flame retardant used almost exclusively in the production of polyurethane foam for furniture and upholstery. The product, which belongs to the polybrominated diphenyl ethers chemical group, presents a risk for the environment and for health. It is bioaccumulating and has been found in breast milk in increasing concentrations, although its origin has been unidentified (with suspected secondary poisoning of the food chain). It is therefore in accordance with the precautionary principle that the Commission proposal covers all the uses of pentaBDE and recommends it be banned. Two other ethers available commercially, decaBDE and octaBDE are currently being assessed for risk, but the results of works in progress are not yet available.
The EP will give its views on the Commission's proposal according to codecision procedure. The Commission stresses that a study concludes the advantages of health and environmental protection brought about by the ban on pentaBDE outweigh the costs. It should be noted that there are other flame retardants that give satisfactory results.