REGULATION (EU) 2017/852 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 17 May 2017 on mercury, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008 (Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), After consulting the Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2), Whereas:
- Mercury is a very toxic substance which represents a global and major threat to human health, including in the form of methylmercury in fish and seafood resources, ecosystems and wildlife. Due to the transboundary nature of mercury pollution, between 40 % and 80 % of total mercury deposition in the Union originates from outside the Action is therefore warranted at local, regional, national and international levels.
- Most mercury emissions and associated exposure risks result from anthropogenic activities such as primary mercury mining and processing, the use of mercury in products and industrial processes, artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing, coal combustion and the management of mercury waste.
- The Seventh Environment Action Programme adopted by Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) establishes the long-term objective of a non-toxic environment and, for that purpose, stipulates that action is needed to ensure the minimisation of significant adverse effects of chemicals on human health and the environment by 2020.
More info download this PDF Regulations : Mercury-as-Highly-Toxic-Substance-EU-Regulations