Proposal Under Way To Phase Out Lead By 2015 - 20/07/2007

Proposal Under Way To Phase Out Lead By 2015
The European Parliament is seeking to ban the use of lead in recreational fishing equipment by 2015, writes the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) lobbyist Jan Kappel.
On May 22nd, the European Parliament voted to substantially increase an existing list of toxic substances governed by European Union (EU) laws on water quality. It also voted to upgrade a number of these substances to a higher category of toxicity, which would require member states to phase out their use of lead entirely by 2015.
The move is a step backwards from July last year, when the EU Commission did not include lead in its new measures for dealing with 'priority' and 'priority hazardous' substances. But the European Parliament now wants to see a change to that. It suggests that lead and a number of other substances be ‘subject to a review’ for identification as possible ‘priority hazardous substances’.
EFTTA lobbyist Jan Kappel said: "The EU Commission is requested to make a proposal to the European Parliament and the council for its final classification. If the council agrees fully with the parliament, then EU member states will be required to phase out the use of lead entirely by 2015.”