EEB calls for a robust revised EU Mercury Regulation EEB recommendations for the European Parliament and Council - Brussels, 15 January 2024

EEB calls for a robust revised EU Mercury Regulation EEB recommendations for the European Parliament and Council Brussels, 15 January 2024 The European Environmental Bureau welcomes the release of European Commission’s proposal for a revised EU Mercury Regulation, which aims to establish a mercury-free Europe, and address the last intentional remaining uses of mercury in products in the Union. [...] We welcome the outcome of the ENVI committee voteii calling for 2025 dental amalgam and mercury lamps phase outs, and requesting studies and further work on crematoria, mercury added compounds as well as remaining mercury uses in the EU. [...] We call on the Members of the European Parliament and Member States to follow the same line in the upcoming discussions and votes as relevant, for the reasons below: 1. [...] • It is known to pose a health risk (dental amalgam contains 50% of mercury!) A delayed phased out date, with the increased rate of cremation and the lack of regulation of mercury emissions from crematoria, would only allow for tonnes of mercury to be direct ly released, affecting the environment and people’s health. [...] • In the same report, mercury consumption for porosimetry was assessed to be substantially larger than previously expected and potentially among the largest remaining uses in the EU.