Pressure grows for cadmium battery ban

Date: 29/07/1999

By Peter Chapman

THE battle over moves towards an outright ban on the use of cadmium in batteries is hotting up, as European Commission environment officials and industry representatives lock horns over whether suitable alternatives are available.

Environment officials claim that evidence is mounting in favour of a ban following the publication of a study by Stockholm University which, said one, "clearly shows there are substitutes to batteries containing cadmium".

But the industry argues that while alternatives exist for some products, a cadmium ban would wreak havoc in the market for other goods where no substitutes are available.

The war of words comes as the Directorate-General for environmental policy (DGXI) prepares to relaunch proposals to phase out batteries containing cadmium by 2008 after Swedish Commissioner-designate Margot Wallström takes charge of the portfolio in the autumn.

Officials say the Stockholm study showed that nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, which contain the element linked to cancers and other health problems, could be replaced by environmentally friendly nickel metal hydride batteries. They add that these batteries, already popular in Japan, could be sold as cheaply as Ni-Cd ones.

But Raymond Sempels, of the International Cadmium Association, said that while nickel metal hydride batteries could replace Ni-Cd in some products such as lap-top computers and phones, they would be much more expensive initially.

He also claimed a cadmium ban would be devastating for products such as power tools and emergency lighting. "For these products today, there are no substitutes," he insisted.

He also pointed out that industry had promised to collect and recycle 75% of the NiCd batteries on the market, but environment officials question whether the sector can meet its ambitious targets.

Outgoing Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard hoped to propose a ban earlier this year. But her plans were scuppered first by opposition from other Commission departments which sided with the industry and then by the Commission's mass resignation which led to a freeze on new policy proposals.

Sempels said Commission departments responsible for trade, industry and the single market had all reiterated their support for the cadmium industry at a round-table meeting on the issue this week.