Mercury falling as MEPs back ban

10th July 2007

EUROPE today delivered a major victory for public health after Euro-MPs backed a ban on the use of mercury in thermometers and other measuring instruments.

Wales Labour MEPs Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan joined their colleagues to agree a ban on the sale of non-electrical instruments containing the toxic heavy metal, such as barometers, manometers and thermometers.

The ban, already endorsed by EU states, will apply to new devices only. Existing instruments or antiques can still be repaired or bought and sold second-hand.

Speaking from Strasbourg, GLENYS KINNOCK said:

"Scientists across 27 EU countries agree that even at low doses mercury is extremely harmful to human health. Even at very low concentrations, mercury can have very damaging effects on children's mental development. There is no safe exposure level."

ELUNED MORGAN added:

"Just a few grams of mercury could contaminate the lakes and reservoirs containing the fish we eat; in the case of land, contact with certain strains of bacteria could trigger reactions that would turn our fields into hazardous chemical factories.

"Today's vote is a major victory - both for public health and for our environment."

Notes:

1. Mercury-free thermometers and barometers, both aneroid and digital, are already available on the market, and can be transported without the need for hazardous packaging.
2. The Committee supports a two-year transitional period so that the industry can adapt to the use of existing alternative substances. Although very few manufacturers exist in Europe, the manufacture, repair and restoration of mercury barometers is not their only business. These companies usually also manufacture different types of aneroid (mercury-free) barometers, different clocks, barographs, marine instruments, thermometers, hygrometers. The repair and trade in antique barometers will be able to continue.
3. The ban on mercury in measuring instruments is part of a wider EU strategy to phase out mercury in all its uses once viable alternative substances are available. The legislation has the unanimous support of 27 EU governments as well as the majority of MEPs.
4. For more information please contact Lisa Stevens at the Labour European Office on 029 2048 5305 or 079 7367 8175.

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