On 21 February, the Commission tabled a proposal to amend the 76/769 directive on hazardous substances in order to set the terms of any future ban on mercury. This proposal will be dealt with by the European Parliament under co-decision in the coming months.
Parliament adopted an own-initiative report on the EU’s future approach to the hazards of mercury. Parliament says it is “an economic, political and moral imperative” for the EU to take the lead in dealing with global mercury problems.