Press Release: Environment: Commission welcomes voluntary agreement on safe storage of mercury

The European Commission welcomed a voluntary agreement to ensure the safe storage of surplus mercury from the European chlor-alkali industry, once a ban on exports of the highly toxic metal from the European Union takes effect. The legislation required that mercury that is no longer used, be stored in a way preventing its release. Euro Chlor, the European association of the chlor-alkali industry – the chemical industry sector responsible for chlorine and caustic soda production – agreed to ensure safe storage under optimal conditions, when the legislation comes into effect in 2011. This is the first voluntary industry agreement to be formally recognised by a Commission Recommendation since the adoption of a Communication on environmental agreements in 2002.

European Commission: MEMO/08/808: Questions & Answers on the EU Mercury Strategy http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/808&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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