Dangerous substances: marketing and use of pentaBDE in polyurethane foam (24th amend. Directive 76/769/EEC)

The European Parliament voted to ban the use of a chemical that is widely used to fire-proof furniture and upholstery but has been found to harm human health and the environment. The report drafted by Mr Frédérique RIES (ELDR, B) supports the Commission's proposal to ban pentaBDE, a flame retardant that is used extensively in the manufacture of polyurethane foam but has been found by scientists to be harmful to the environment and is being detected in increasing levels in human breast milk. (Please refer to the previous text).�