Date of release : 24-06-2005

Policy area : Environment Environment

Event : Environment Council

At its 24 June meeting in Luxembourg, the Environment Council reached a unanimous agreement on the Community strategy for Mercury. "Mercury is a sensitive issue for the public due to significant risks for the environment and health," said Lucien Lux, Minister for the Environment and current President of the Environment Council.

The conclusions, adopted by the Ministers, seek to support the Commission in the implementation of its strategy, based on a life-cycle approach, including the production, use and processing of waste. The ministers reached an agreement that exports of this hazardous substance from the EU to other countries should be banned in stages until 2011. Lucien Lux went on to say that the conclusions contain another important message: "The Presidency supports the community strategy, based on a life-cycle approach, in other words, from cradle to grave, from production, via storage, until elimination."