Activities of Stefan ECK related to 2016/0023(COD)
Plenary speeches (2)
Mercury (debate) DE
Mercury (debate) DE
Reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on mercury, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008 PDF (977 KB) DOC (129 KB)
Amendments (8)
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Most mercury emissions and associated exposure risks result from anthropogenic activities, including primary mercury mining and processing, the use of mercury in products, industrial processes and artisanal and small-scale gold mining ("ASGM") and mercury emissions originating in particular from coal combustion and the management of mercury waste. Fossil fuel combustion in power plants and industrial boilers together with residential heating constitute almost half of global mercury emissions. Therefore, the transition to renewable energy production along with energy efficiency measures should be hastened in order to significantly reduce the release of mercury into the atmosphere.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) As Union legislation already transposes many of the obligations of the Convention, this Regulation should only lay down provisions that complement the Union acquis and that are needed to ensure its full alignment with the Convention and, accordingly, to enable the Union and its Member States to ratify and implement it. This Regulation should also lay down new provisions that go beyond the Convention, in keeping with the Strategy and Union legislation on the environment and protection of human health, particularly in the field of waste.
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) The permanent storage without pre-treatment of metallic mercury that is considered as waste should be ruled out owing to the risks it poses, as an extremely hazardous substance in its liquid state. Prior to the permanent storage of mercury waste, the relevant operations to stabilise and solidify such waste must be carried out in order to reduce these risks, in keeping with Article 6 of Directive 1999/31/EC. The permanent storage (or disposal) of mercury waste will be permitted only after it has been solidified.
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 b (new)
Recital 18 b (new)
(18b) The safety of permanent storage underground or in salt mines should be carefully analysed, since there are no studies that adequately assess the risks linked to this form of storage for mercury waste. The Commission may draw up recommendations for the characteristics of facilities for the permanent storage of mercury waste. It may also propose a revision of Directive 1999/31/EC.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The Commission shall identify the financial and technical means for contributing to the capacity-building and the transfer of technical assistance and technology pursuant to the obligations deriving from the Minamata Convention. The Commission in collaboration with Member States and relevant stakeholders shall promote and facilitate the development, transfer and diffusion of, and access to, up-to-date environmentally sound alternative technologies to developing country Parties, in particular the least developed countries, so as to strengthen their capacity to effectively implement the Minamata Convention. This obligation shall include all areas and phases of the elaboration of mercury, including the disposal as waste.
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – indent 1 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – indent 1 a (new)
- evidence showing that there are no technological alternatives to the use of mercury for the product or process,
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall adopt decisions, by means of implementing acts, in view of specifying whether the relevant new mercury-added product or new manufacturing process is allowed. The Member State concerned may not authorise the new product or process before the Commission has adopted its decision.
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. From one year after the entry into force of this Regulation, dental amalgam shall not be used for the treatment of pregnant or breastfeeding women or children who undergo treatment on their deciduous teeth.