Brussels, 15/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on 14 January, the European Parliament confirmed its determination to have dichloromethane (DCM), composed of dangerous chemical substances used in paint strippers, gradually banned from use in this way in order to protect consumer and professional health. According to the rapporteur, Carl Schlyter (Greens, Sweden), MEPs gave their endorsement (674 votes to 17 and 8 abstentions) to the first reading compromise negotiated between the Parliament and Council on restricting the marketing and the use of certain dangerous substances and preparations. The rapporteur welcomes the fact that EU consumers will soon no longer be exposed to this highly dangerous chemical substance which is carcinogenic and harmful for the brain and nervous system, as well as extremely volatile. It only has to be inhaled to give exposure at levels higher than those authorised for its professional use”. Mr Schlyter nonetheless regrets that his proposal aimed at a total ban on the professional use of DCM should come up against the United Kingdom's opposition within Council.
The text, as endorsed by the Parliament, aims to: - ban the use of DCM by consumers, who are the least aware of the dangers of dichloromethane and who have least access to protective equipment; - ban in general the use by professionals operating outside industrial premises, but member states can opt to allow further use for certain activities by specifically trained professionals holding a licence under certain strict conditions; - increase protection of workers during industrial use of such paint strippers by imposing the use of protective equipment such as gloves and masks, and modification of the stripping vats with adequate ventilation of work posts; - and avoid further divergent actions by member states which create obstacles to the internal market without benefit for the protection of all European citizens.
Restricted derogation for professionals and enhanced protection of workers can be attributed to the Parliament. Once formally adopted, the decision will take effect three days after its publication. Eighteen months after its entry into force, paint strippers containing DCM in a concentration above or equal to 0.1% in mass will be banned from sale to the general public or for professional use. And 36 months after the text takes effect, these will be banned from all professional use.
DCM is classed as a category 3 carcinogen. According to the data provided by the European Commission, this substance was the cause of 18 fatalities (9 during industrial use, 8 during professional use and 1 when used by the general public) between 1989 and 2007, and 56 non-fatal accidents in the EU. Austria, Denmark and Sweden have for a long while taken measures to ban DCM in paint strippers, seeking to replace it with less dangerous alternatives. Germany is about to do so. Among the alternatives available on the market, chemical paint strippers using chemical products other than DCM are more often used. It is also possible to use physical/mechanical stripping methods and pryolitic/thermal stripping. (A.N./transl.jl)