By Anne-France White - 14th November 2006
The European parliament has exempted barometers from the EU mercury ban in a controversial vote.
The move in Tuesday’s plenary was supported by a strong majority of MEPs, with 327 votes in favour and 274 against.
In a clear U-turn on their previous position, MEPs agreed to exempt measuring devices such as barometers and thermometers from the mercury ban.
Parliament’s four biggest political groups had previously agreed on a proposal to ban mercury in all measuring devices for sale to the general public in order to ensure swift agreement with the European commission and member state governments.
Mercury and its compounds are now known to be highly toxic to humans, ecosystems and wildlife – but 33 tonnes are used every year in the EU for measuring and control devices.
The vote is a victory for industry members, who had argued that the ban would put them out of business.
The UK’s Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) had argued that the ban would lead people to throw their barometers away, causing even more harm to the environment.
The FSB hailed the decision as “a victory not just for barometer makers but for common sense”.
The move, however, has angered green MEPs and environmental groups.
“It is a disgrace that a handful of small producers of new barometers should be able to hold public health to ransom by de facto blocking an agreement on the phase out of mercury in fever thermometers and it is irresponsible of those MEPs who have pushed for this,” fumed Swedish green Carl Schlyter.
A group of green NGOs said that non-mercury alternatives have been commercially available since the eighties, and deplored what they called a “deeply disappointing outcome”.
The organisations say the vote rules out a quick adoption of the directive – as a result, the mercury issue is likely to have to be brought under the REACH chemicals legislation, which is currently going through parliament.
They argue that this would avoid the ban having to later pass through the REACH legal procedures, leading to “serious delay”.
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