European Commission EU mercury Strategy
The Commission launched a comprehensive strategy against mercury on the 31 January 2005. The Commission strategy has proposed a series of actions to cut EU and global emissions and use on mercury phasing out EU mercury exports by July 2011. It also addresses safe storage of mercury decommissioned by EU industry.
Mercury ban in measuring instruments for domestic use
On the 10 July 2007, the MEPs voted in the plenary session, in second reading, for a ban on non-electronic mercury thermometers and other instruments which contain mercury to be sold as measuring instruments to the public. Thermometers and all other devices for domestic use will soon be mercury free, except the derogation for barometer manufacturers.
This legislation must take effect no later than 18 months after the directive has entered into force. Traditional barometer manufacturers have an additional six months after that point. The exemption could end in late 2009.
According to a coalition of Europe’s leading campaigners against mercury, lead by the Health and Environment Alliance, this ban is a "major boost in protecting our health".
However the coalition urged the Commission to also protect professionals. According to the Health and Environment Alliance: "it is a pity that pressure devices for professional use which contain mercury haven’t been banned, because safe, precise and reliable alternatives are available."
Exports, imports and storage in Europe
On the 20 June 2007, the European Parliament plenary session adopted by 673 to 14 the first-reading report drafted for the environment committee, by Dimitrios Papadimoulis. Mr Papadimoulis is a Greek MEP from the Conferedal Group of the European United Left and Nordic Green Left (GUE/ NGL). This report ban exports and imports mercury by 2010, and stricter rules on storages.
On the 28 June 2007, Environment ministers from the EU’s 27 national governments were meeting to decide on the European Commission’s proposed regulation on mercury. The environment ministers kept the implementation date of 1 July 2011 for the export ban, ignoring the European Parliament’s demand for the earlier deadline.
Regarding the storage MEPs lauded for the polluter-pays principle. The owner of the storage facility must be responsible for safety. For the matter of storage, on the 28 June 2007, the Environment Council decided that requirements for storage facilities and the criteria to accept storage of liquid metallic mercury must be adopted before any final disposal can occur. The Commission would have to submit a report reviewing safe disposal options one year before the export ban can start.
The Parliament approach is much more advanced than what the EU Commission expected in their EU mercury strategy. European Parliament says it is "an economic, political and moral imperative" for the EU to take the lead in dealing with global mercury problems.
Anti- mercury campaigners press releases
Environment Council’s conclusions - 28 June 2008
European Parliament Press release - 10 July 2007
European Parliament Press release - 20 June 2007
European Commission Press release - launch EU mercury strategy 31 January 2007
European Commission Press release - Ban mercury exports and storage rules
