Brussels, 21 February 2006 - Environmental and health NGOs have welcomed the Commission’s proposal today - amending a directive - for the restriction of the marketing and use of mercury in certain measuring and control devices. This follows up quite promptly on action proposed in the EU’s Mercury Strategy adopted in January 2005.

“We are disappointed however that despite our call in June 2005, the scope of the Commission’s proposal is still narrower than the foreseen action of the EU Mercury Strategy”, noted Elena Lymberidi, Zero Mercury Project Coordinator at the European Environmental Bureau.

“In the end, mercury use will only be eliminated in measuring devices for consumers and fever thermometers for doctors and veterinarians”, said Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor for Health Care Without Harm. “All other measuring and control devices for professional use, like room or equipment thermometers, will not be mercury-free, despite available alternatives. For example, hospitals can continue to use blood pressure gauges and gastro-intestinal tubes containing mercury”.

Devices containing mercury can pose a risk to human health and the environment both during and after use, because they are easily broken. They end up in the waste storage, landfills and incinerators. Most of this mercury is eventually released to contaminate air, water and soil, and ends up in certain kinds of fish at unsafe levels, posing an unacceptable health risk especially for children and women of childbearing age.

A general restriction should be put in place on the marketing and use of mercury in all measuring and control equipment for consumer and professional use (especially in households, healthcare facilities and schools). This restriction should only allow time-limited exemptions where adequate alternatives are not yet available. Individual EU Member States and some hospital associations have already taken action in banning or restricting the use of such products containing mercury - including professional devices - with several exemptions where adequate alternatives do not exist.

“Many of these devices have already been extensively analysed. Non-mercury alternatives are commercially available - and costs are comparable”, said Genon Jensen, Executive Director of the European Public Health Alliance Environment Network. “Any manufacturer who still wants to use the toxic chemical - in cases where there is no alternative - should then be required to apply for special permission”.

“Actions related to mercury measuring devices and instruments are necessary because of their significant use within the EU and worldwide”, said Michael Bender, Northern Coordinator of the Ban Mercury Working Group. “The estimated 166 tons of annual mercury consumption in measuring and control devices represents a tremendous opportunity for lowering worldwide mercury demand. If mercury is so toxic that it is being eliminated - in much smaller quantities -from electrical and electronic equipment right now, in line with the RoHS Directive, it is absurd to leave it in so many measuring devices and instruments that can easily be replaced by mercuryfree alternatives”.

We call on the European Parliament and Council to strengthen the Commission’s proposal.

For more information, see position paper