Activities of Nikolaj VILLUMSEN related to 2023/0272(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury as regards dental amalgam and other mercury-added products subject to manufacturing, import and export restrictions
Amendments (28)
Amendment 17 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Considering the availability of mercury-free alternatives, as well as bans and phase-out of dental amalgam already in effect in many Member States, it is appropriate to prohibit the use of dental amalgam for dental treatment of all members of the population, whilst maintaining the possibility of using dental amalgam for patients with specific medical needs. In order to prevent dental amalgam, which is prohibited on the Union market, being manufactured for export from the Union, it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture and export of dental amalgam. Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2017/852 should therefore be amended accordingly.
Amendment 20 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) Phasing out amalgam is not only a cost-effective way to prevent dental mercury pollution, but also has no or minor negative socio-economic consequences, as mercury-free alternatives are available, affordable, effective, less harmful to human health, more widely used by dentists, which is why mercury-free alternatives are preferred by most EU citizens.
Amendment 22 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The continued export of mercury- added products, mercury-added lamps in particular, represents a significant risk for importing countries. Where there is a lack of effective and safe collection and recycling systems for mercury-bearing lamps in the receiving countries, such imports from the EU represent a real menace to people’s health and the environment. Moreover, considering its transboundary nature, mercury released elsewhere in the world can be identified back in the air, soil, water, and in the bodies of citizens in the EU. Acknowledging the transboundary nature of mercury, reducing the demand for mercury within the EU should also stop unwanted mercury, and mercury-added products, from being exported outside the EU.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) Phasing out the export of mercury- added lamps as early as possible, will have both health and environmental benefits. Furthermore, significant co-benefits can be achieved, as mercury-free alternatives are more energy-efficient, hence preventing tonnes of CO2 emissions from being released.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 c (new)
Recital 5 c (new)
(5c) Acknowledging the readiness of the EU market for lamps and the ongoing transition towards mercury-free lamps in the EU and globally, it is appropriate to prohibit the EU export of the remaining mercury-added lamps at the earliest possible time.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 d (new)
Recital 5 d (new)
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 e (new)
Recital 5 e (new)
(5e) Only a few mercury compounds are regulated by this Regulation, from which elemental mercury can potentially be recovered. Recent reports prove that European companies are manufacturing and exporting mercury compounds for non-allowed uses, e.g. mercury containing cosmetics. Acknowledging that the production is facilitated by the unregulated trade of such compounds, which in turn exposes many individuals to mercury through e.g. their use of mercury containing cosmetics, the manufacturing, import and export of all mercury compounds that may be intended for non- allowed uses should be prohibited in the EU.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 f (new)
Recital 5 f (new)
(5f) Porosimetry can involve substantial amounts of mercury, which can generate significant amounts of mercury-containing waste. Recognising alternatives to mercury porosimetry are commercially available, this mercury usage needs to be further assessed.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 g (new)
Recital 5 g (new)
(5g) Large quantities of mercury are used in lighthouses, which is why it is appropriate to ensure that these products containing mercury, will be considered as waste and be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner when no longer in use. Furthermore, the manufacture and trade of mercury lighthouses should be phased out.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 h (new)
Recital 5 h (new)
(5h) Mercury in the form of thimerosal or thiomersal may be used as preservative in vaccines, although mercury-free alternatives exist. Given that this use can still be a source of mercury exposure, it needs to be addressed at EU level.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 i (new)
Recital 5 i (new)
(5i) Considering the lack of proper collection systems for mercury-added products in non-electronic and electronic waste, secondary mercury emissions continue to occur from landfills and waste incinerators, calling for the need to collect the products separately and in an environmentally sound manner.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 3 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 4 a (new)
(-1) In Article 3, the following paragraph 4a is added: ‘4a. The export of all mercury compounds, for any uses, shall be notified to the designated national authority of the Member State in which the exporter is established (the exporter's Member State). ’
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 3 – paragraph 4 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 4 b (new)
(-1a) In Article 3, the following paragraph 4b is added: '4b. The export of all mercury compounds, for any uses, shall be subject to export notifications under article 8 of REGULATION (EU) No 649/2012.'
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 b (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 3 – paragraph 4 c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 4 c (new)
(-1b) In Article 3, the following paragraph 4c is added: '4c. The information referred to in paragraph 5 and 6, shall be made publicly available.’
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 c (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 c (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraphs 1 and 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraphs 1 and 2
(-1c) Article 4, paragraph 1, subparagraphs 1 and 2 are replaced by the following: "‘1. The import of mercury, mercury compounds and the import of the mixtures of mercury listed in Annex I, including mercury waste from any of the large sources referred to in points (a) to (de) of Article 11, for purposes other than disposal as waste shall be prohibited. Such import for disposal as waste shall only be allowed where the exporting country has no access to available conversion capacity within its own territory. Without prejudice to Article 11 and by way of derogation from the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the import of mercury, mercury compounds and the import of the mixtures of mercury listed in Annex I for a use allowed in a Member State shall be allowed where the importing Member State has granted written consent to such import in either of the following circumstances: ’" Or. en (32017R0852)
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 d (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 d (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(-1d) In Article 4, the following paragraph 2a is added: ‘2a. The import of mercury compounds for uses not allowed shall be prohibited.’
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 11a (new)
Article 11a (new)
(1a) The following article is added: ‘11a Emissions 1. By 31 December 2025, Member States shall communicate the measures implemented and/or intending to implement and the relevant timeframe, to reduce mercury emissions and release from crematoria, including relevant justifications.’
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11 a (new)
(1b) The following article is added: '11 b. Remaining uses of mercury added products By 31 March 2025 Member States, where mercury is used in porosimetry, shall take necessary measures to ensure that 100 % of the mercury used is recycled and provide information to the Commission on the companies, quantities used and fate of excess mercury or of end of life mercury involved.’
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 d (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 d (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(1d) In Article 11, the following paragraph 1a is added: '1a. Mercury added products still circulating in society and which can no longer be used, shall be considered waste and collected separately and in an environmentally sound manner.’
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 c (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 c (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 11 – point d a (new)
Article 11 – point d a (new)
(1c) In Article 11, the following point (da) is added: '(da) Mercury that is no longer used in light houses'
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 e (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 e (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(1e) In Article 19, the following paragraph 1a is added: '1a. By 31 December 2024, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council, presenting a guidance document on the abatement technologies to control and reduce mercury emissions from crematoria, including different processes or technologies available, relevant costs and benefits for implementing such measures, considering also the co-benefit in controlling other pollutants as well as the effect to the local environment.'
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 f (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 f (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 19 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 b (new)
(1f) In Article 19, the following paragraph 1b is added: '1b. By 31 December 2026, the Commission shall assess progress and report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation and measures taken in the Member States to reduce the mercury emissions from crematoria, on the basis of the Member State reporting as per new article.'
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 g (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 g (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 19 – paragraph 1 c (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 c (new)
(1g) In Article 19, the following paragraph 1c is added: '1c. By 31 December 2025, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the outcome of its assessment regarding: (a)The feasibility of controlling and eliminating the manufacture, import and export of mercury compounds, especially those for non-allowed uses; (b) The feasibility to phase out remaining mercury uses, in the Union. The assessment should cover, without being limited to, the use of mercury in porosimetry, in lighthouses, and in vaccines, as well as others.’
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 h (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 h (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Article 19 – paragraph 3
Article 19 – paragraph 3
(1h) In Article 19, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: "‘ 3. The Commission shall, if appropriate, present a legislative proposal together with its reports referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. , 1a,1b, 1c and 2, by 31 December 2027.’" Or. en (32017R0852)
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 i (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 i (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Annex I
Annex I
(1i) In Annex I, the following point is added: ‘Mercury compounds prohibited for export from 1 January 2025: - Mercury compounds intended for non- allowed uses’
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – point 2 – entry 4a
Annex – point 2 – entry 4a
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Annex II - part A – point 4 a (new) and 4 c (new)
Annex II - part A – point 4 a (new) and 4 c (new)
Mercury-added products Date from which the export, import and manufacturing of the mercury-added products are prohibited ‘4a. Triband phosphor lamps for general lighting 31.12.20275 purposes that are not included in entry 4, point (a). 4b. Halophosphate phosphor lamps for general 31.12.2025 lighting purposes that are not included in entry 4, point (b). 4c. Non-linear triband phosphor lamps. 31.12.2027 5 4d. Non-linear halophosphate phosphor lamps. 31.12.2025’;
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex - paragraph 1 – point 3 a
Annex - paragraph 1 – point 3 a
Regulation (EU) 2017/852
Annex II - part A – point 5 a (new)
Annex II - part A – point 5 a (new)
Mercury-added products Date from which the export, import and manufacturing of the mercury-added products are prohibited 5a. High Pressure Sodium (vapour) lamps (HPS) 31.12.2025 for general lighting purposes with improved colour rendering index 80≥Ra>60