Press Release: Environment: Commission proposes ban on EU mercury exports

The European Commission has proposed legislation to ban all European Union exports of mercury from 2011. The ban forms a key part of the EU's strategy for reducing global exposure to mercury, which is highly toxic to both humans and the environment. The export ban will significantly reduce global supply and thereby also emissions of the heavy metal into the environment. The proposed Regulation requires mercury that is no longer used in the chlor-alkali industry or that is produced in certain other industrial operations to be put into safe storage once the export prohibition takes effect in July 2011. The Commission is organising an international mercury conference on 26-27 October 2006 in Brussels to promote global action, including the possible development of a legally binding international agreement, to reduce human and environmental exposure.