(14/01/04) EP bant fosfaten in wasmiddelen niet onmiddellijk. Commissie ziet verbod haalbaar binnen drie jaar.

• 2004-01-14

Environmental problems only partially addressed in final compromise:
detergent phosphate ban delayed but on its way

The Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament are disappointed that MEPs voting in the Plenary session in Strasbourg did not support their call for an immediate phase-out of phosphates in detergents, but welcomed the fact that the European Commission has agreed to propose legislation with a view to a ban within three years.

Greens MEPs also welcomed improvements in the area of consumer information that they fought for, but regretted that a ban of substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction is not part of the final compromise. There was also concern that new biodegradability rules are too limited and not strict enough.

Alexander de Roo, Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee said:
"It is a shame that the Parliament has shied away from calling for an immediate phosphate ban, despite strong arguments from the Commission's Scientific Committee. Given the various environmental problems of phosphates in detergents and the wide availability of safe alternatives, phosphate use should have been phased out long ago. But, at least the writing is now on the wall and the Commission has agreed to come forward with a proposal with a view to a phosphate ban. We call on the Commission to make a proposal for a ban by the end of the year – this should be relatively straightforward as there is already a draft prepared."

Inger Schörling, Member of the Environment Committee said:
"I am glad that we managed to improve consumer information on the ingredients of detergents. It should be taken for granted that consumers will be able to find out what substances are used in their detergents and whether they contain perfumes or not. Consumers would not have had this information had we not insisted on it. As far as the environmental impacts of detergents are concerned, this new regulation is only the beginning, as it deals with only one form of biodegradability of one of the ingredient of detergents. We need to address all aspects of biodegradation of all ingredients as soon as possible. We welcome the Commission's commitment to address these issues – but call on them to do so as soon as possible."

Notes to Editors: On 13 November 2003, the Scientific Committee on Toxcicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) issued an opinion on the environment impact that would result from banning sodium tripolyphosphate (STTP) in household detergents. It discovered that:
- STTP in detergents in countries where there are no reduction measures are a significant risk for eutrophication,
- Chemical removal of phosphorus in tertiary sewage treatment is not a general rule in European countries, and that in several countries, and in particular in the accession countries, the connection to sewage treatment is lower than 50%, with a very low incidence of advanced treatments,
- STTP restrictions are the only possibility to reduce phosphorus loads from urban emissions in all situations where connection to sewage treatment plants is difficult or if tertiary treatment is not planned
- Phosphorus removal in sewage treatment is estimated to increase sludge production from about 15% to greater than 50%, resulting in a sludge of lower quality which may not be suitable for agricultural use.
- Zeolites, the commonly used alternative to STTP, has no toxicological or ecotoxicological problems, that their use in detergent products should not increase the amount of sewage sludge produced, nor lead to a sewage sludge of unacceptable quality for agricultural use.
- High market share of phosphate free detergents in most European countries in 1998 (Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Austria - 100%; Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia - 80-95%; Great Britain, France, Greece - 50-55%, Portugal, Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland 15-40%)