Health and environment: use of nonylphenol, nonylphenol ethoxylate and cement (26th amend. Directive 76/769/EEC)

The committee adopted the report by Paul LANNOYE (Greens/EFA, B) amending the proposal under the codecision procedure (1st reading). As regards NPE and NP, the amendments were aimed at enlarging the scope of the restriction to co-formulants in pesticides and to active substances and co-formulants in biocides, as well as to preparations for sale to the general public and food packaging. The committee also called for the directive on sewage sludge to be amended with a view to establishing a concentration limit value for NP and NPE. In addition, it called on the Commission to review the use of alkylphenols as possible substitutes for NPE and to present a proposal, within one year of the directive's entry into force, banning such use. As far as cement was concerned, the amendments sought to make it mandatory, rather than optional, to use ferrous sulphate as a reducing agent during the production of cement. The committee specified that the dosage should be as close as possible to the maximum recommended dosage (5g/kg (0,5% by mass) for hexaheptahydrate and 3g/kg (0,3% by mass) for monohydrate). Lastly, MEPs called on the Commission to put forward proposals for restricting the use of chromium VI in other applications and amending the 1998 directive on protecting the health and safety of workers with a view to establishing a binding occupational exposure limit value for dust.�