{"id":1754,"date":"2016-07-13T07:33:45","date_gmt":"2016-07-13T05:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eebtestsite.oldcontinent.eu\/?p=1754"},"modified":"2017-05-22T17:54:07","modified_gmt":"2017-05-22T15:54:07","slug":"mercury-report-eeb-reaction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/mercury-report-eeb-reaction\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercury report: EEB reaction"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><span class=\"s1\">EEB Reaction to the exchange of views in the European Parliament\u2019s Environment Committee (12 July 2016) on the report on mercury by the rapporteur MEP Stefan Eck (GUE\/DE)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The Rapporteur presented his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/sides\/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&amp;mode=XML&amp;language=EN&amp;reference=PE584.224\"><span class=\"s2\">report<\/span><\/a> which strengthens the European Commission\u2019s proposal and goes well beyond the Minamata Convention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The shadow rapporteurs presented their views: Michel Dantin (EPP), Massimo Paolucci (S&amp;D), Julie Girling (ECR), Anneli Jaatteenmaki (ALDE), Michele Rivasi (Greens), Mireille D\u2019Ornano (ENF). Other MEPs intervened including Auyso, Florenz, Mikolasik, Grossetete (all from EPP).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">This is a summary of the views expressed as above on the main technical issues:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The export ban should be expanded to include a wider list of mercury compounds. This was supported by GUE, but not all parties expressed views on this.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">A full import ban on mercury was supported by GUE, the Greens. ALDE and S&amp;D supported a full import ban unless the mercury in question is destined for disposal. The EPP and ECR would support the EC\u2019s approach (a ban only on imports from non-Parties to the Convention, or under specific conditions).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The export ban on mercury-added products should be aligned with the restrictions applied within the EU &#8211; this view was supported by GUE, S&amp;D, the Greens, ALDE, the EPP and the ECR. However, the EC expressed concerns about this approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Mercury in dentistry should be phased out as soon as possible, and for children and pregnant women even sooner. This was supported by GUE, S&amp;D, the Greens and the ECR. Concerns were raised about the scientific evidence supporting such a decision by the EPP, ALDE and the EC.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Mercury used in processes including alchoholates needs to be phased out. This was generally supported by all parties, though there may be some concerns since not all parties expressed their views on this.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Liquid mercury waste needs to be solidified before disposal. This was supported by all parties. Some difference of opinion still exists on whether the solidified product should be disposed in salt mines (GUE, S&amp;D) or in above ground facilities (Greens). The EPP representative had split views on this last point.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The temporary storage of mercury waste for a few years will be needed considering the available capacity for solidification\/stabilization. This was also supported by all parties\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The EEB is very happy to see that all parties expressed the need to strengthen the EU regulation. Such an approach will allow the EU to keep its leadership position and to adequately ensure the protection of human health and the environment while sending a clear and unequivocal signal to other countries working towards the same objectives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The message is also very clear with respect to the export of mercury-added products. Most parties agreed that double standards should be avoided to ensure that these products do not end up in countries with no or less stringent regulations for the management of mercury. Since alternatives exist, such a measure will promote mercury-free markets and drive down the price of mercury-free products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">A rather strong message was also echoed with respect to the use of mercury in dental amalgams. It seems that most parties are in favour of a phase out since this is the most cost-effective way to prevent dental mercury pollution. Mercury-free dental restorations are available, affordable, effective and preferred by most EU citizens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">It also seems there is agreement on the fact that no liquid mercury waste should be disposed of before it is first solidified\/stabilized. This would be a step in the right direction for safer handling and disposal of mercury.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Notes for editors:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><a href=\"http:\/\/eebtestsite.oldcontinent.eu\/wpfd_file\/eeb-proposals-to-ensure-a-robust-revised-eu-mercury-regulation-eck-draft-report-envi-committee\/\"><span class=\"s4\">EEB full comments.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/eebtestsite.oldcontinent.eu\/wpfd_file\/phase-out-amalgam-use-in-the-european-union-eck-draft-report-envi\/\">NGOs letter on phasing out mercury from dentistry<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/eebtestsite.oldcontinent.eu\/wpfd_file\/technical-advantages-of-mercury-free-dentistry\/\">Technical advantages of mercury free dentistry<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EEB Reaction to the exchange of views in the European Parliament\u2019s Environment Committee (12 July 2016) on the report on mercury by the rapporteur MEP Stefan<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":1062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[128,131,3,4],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-1754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-health","category-mercury","category-news","category-press-release","tag-mercury"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/mercury3-web.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1754\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}