Press Release: Commission proposes strategy to deal with mercury pollution including a ban on exports

The European Commission proposed a comprehensive strategy against mercury pollution on 31 January 2005. High doses of mercury and its compounds can be fatal, but even relatively low amounts can seriously harm the nervous system. There was evidence that mercury pollution, in particular where it exceeds the international accepted safety levels, for example in fish, still affected the health of some European citizens. The Commission strategy proposed a series of actions to cut EU and global emissions and use of mercury, including phasing out EU mercury exports by 2011. It also addressed safe storage of mercury decommissioned by EU industry.

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