SWEDISH GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS ALL USE OF MERCURY
Christiane Tourtet B.A.
April 01, 2009
Minister for the Environment, Andreas Carlgren, said that,
"Sweden is now leading the way in removing and protecting the environment from mercury, which is non-degradable. The ban is a strong signal to other countries and a Swedish contribution to EU and UN aims to reduce mercury use and emissions".
The prohibition from the Swedish Government means that all products containing mercury will not be allowed to be placed on the Swedish market. Alternative techniques will have to be used, in the chloralkali industry, chemical analysis and dental care. The Swedish Chemicals Agency, will have the right to issue regulations on exceptions or, in individual cases, grant exemptions.
Due to the Government´s decision, mercury will have to be disposed of, in geological repositories in other EU countries, but the Swedish market for hazardous waste is rather small. The Government has established that there exist repositories for waste containing mercury, that meet more than adequately the safety requirements, on which the legislation of Sweden is based. Germany, is a good example of that. It would cost about 15 times more to create a Swedish repository than depositing waste in already existing facilities in the EU.
Mr. Carlgren states "By using common solutions and almost forty years of experience of storing mercury in the EU, we are not lowering safety standards. The waste will be transported to a deep geological repository with high safety standards. In accordance with the polluter pays principle, the owners of the waste will be responsible for ensuring that disposal in a repository is arranged and paying for it".
Since early 1990, there has been a prohibition in Sweden on the sale and manufacture of some mercury containing products, which included electronic components, measuring devices, and thermometers. The new regulations will take effect on June 2009.
Reference:
Government Offices of Sweden.
© 2009 Christiane Tourtet. All rights reserved.
"Sweden is now leading the way in removing and protecting the environment from mercury, which is non-degradable. The ban is a strong signal to other countries and a Swedish contribution to EU and UN aims to reduce mercury use and emissions".
The prohibition from the Swedish Government means that all products containing mercury will not be allowed to be placed on the Swedish market. Alternative techniques will have to be used, in the chloralkali industry, chemical analysis and dental care. The Swedish Chemicals Agency, will have the right to issue regulations on exceptions or, in individual cases, grant exemptions.
Due to the Government´s decision, mercury will have to be disposed of, in geological repositories in other EU countries, but the Swedish market for hazardous waste is rather small. The Government has established that there exist repositories for waste containing mercury, that meet more than adequately the safety requirements, on which the legislation of Sweden is based. Germany, is a good example of that. It would cost about 15 times more to create a Swedish repository than depositing waste in already existing facilities in the EU.
Mr. Carlgren states "By using common solutions and almost forty years of experience of storing mercury in the EU, we are not lowering safety standards. The waste will be transported to a deep geological repository with high safety standards. In accordance with the polluter pays principle, the owners of the waste will be responsible for ensuring that disposal in a repository is arranged and paying for it".
Since early 1990, there has been a prohibition in Sweden on the sale and manufacture of some mercury containing products, which included electronic components, measuring devices, and thermometers. The new regulations will take effect on June 2009.
Reference:
Government Offices of Sweden.
© 2009 Christiane Tourtet. All rights reserved.
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