Re: Norway bans Mercury products

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From The Mercury Policy Project:Translation of press release, published 21 December 2007 at(http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2007/Forbyr-kv\ikksolv-i-produkter.html?id=495138)Norwegian Minister of the Environment Solheim:Bans mercury in productsWhen toxic mercury lands in the environment it is extremely harmful, and thedevelopment of children may be harmed as a result. The Norwegian Minister ofEnvironment and Development, Solheim, has therefore prohibited the useof mercury in products in Norway. Also the use of mercury in dental materialswill be prohibited.'Mercury is among the most dangerous environmental toxins. Satisfactoryalternatives to mercury in products are available, and it is therefore fittingtointroduce a ban', the minister said.The reason for the ban is the risk that mercury from products may constitutein the environment. It is therefore important to stop all use of mercury asfar as possible.The ban will include dental filling materials (amalgam) and measuringinstruments, as well as other products. The ban includes all areas of use thatarenot specifically exempted or are already regulated. The ban will enter intoeffect on 1 January 2008.Most mercury released to the environment in Norway comes from sourceselsewhere in the world. Norway works actively towards stronger internationalregulations for mercury, both in the EU and globally.'The Norwegian ban shows that we are doing our job at home. It is animportant signal to the EU and other countries that there are satisfactoryalternatives to mercury', the minister said.Exposure to mercury results in permanent development damage to children.Mercury accumulates in food, especially in fish, and therefore constitutes athreat to fish as a global source of food. Mercury is transported acrosslong distances, far from the sources. There is too much mercury in theenvironment in Norway also. Today we advise against eating too much largefreshwaterfish, and that pregnant women entirely avoid such food.See 'Regulation on amending the regulation of 1 June 2004, No. 922, onrestrictions on the use of chemicals and other products that endanger health andthe environment (product regulation)'.In Norwegian: Forskrift om endring av forskrift 1. juni 2004 nr. 922 ombegrensning i bruk av helse- og miljøfarlige kjemikalier og andre produkter(produktforskriften)Contact information:Deputy Director General Anne Beate TangenPhone: +47 2224 6033Fax: +47 2224 9563(to send an e-mail, go to the website listed above for the Department of theEnvironment)Address:The Ministry of the EnvironmentP.O. Box 8013 DepN-0030 OsloSee Press release, published 21 December 2007 at_www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2007/Forbyr-kvikksolv\-i-produkter.html?id=495138_(http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2007/Forbyr-kv\ikksolv-i-produkter.html?id=495138)The following is a translation of the Norwegian regulation banning the useof mercury in products, translated by XXX XXXX ).'Regulation on amending the regulation of 1 June 2004, No. 922, onrestrictions on the use of chemicals and other products that endanger health andtheenvironment (product regulation)'. In Norwegian: Forskrift om endring avforskrift 1. juni 2004 nr. 922 om begrensning i bruk av helse- og miljøfarligekjemikalier og andre produkter (produktforskriften)Established by the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment on 14 December2007, by authority in the law of 11 June 1979 regarding supervision of productsand consumer services (product supervision/inspection) § 4. See law of 17December 2004, No. 101, on European obligation to report on technical rules(European Economic Agreement consultation law) and Directive 98/34/EF, amendedbyDirective 98/48/EF.IIn the regulation of 1 June 2004, No. 922, on restrictions on the use ofchemicals and other products that endanger health and the environment(produktforskriften), the following amendments are hereby made:The amended § 2-6 shall now read:§ 2-6. Mercury and mercury compoundsIt is prohibited to produce, import, export, sell or usematerials/substances or material combinations that contain mercury or mercurycompounds.It is prohibited to produce, import, export or sell finished products thatcontain mercury or mercury compounds.The prohibitions in the first and second paragraphs do not include mercurythat is naturally contained in coal, ore, or ore concentrations.The prohibitions in the first and second paragraphs also do not includepackaging, batteries, components in motor vehicles or electric and electronicproducts and equipment that are covered by the §§ 3-11, 3-13 to 3-15 and 3-17 to3-19 of this regulation.The bans in the first and second paragraphs do not covermaterials/substances/combinations and finished products where the content ofmercury or mercurycompounds is lower than 0.001 per cent by weight.The prohibition in the first paragraph does not apply to tiomersal aspreservative in vaccines.Until 31 December 2010, the prohibition in the first paragraph does notapply to:a) amalgam used in dental treatment for patients that must be treated underanesthesia or who are allergic to ingredients in other dental fillingmaterials, contact materials in welding machines.The prohibition in the second paragraph includes mercury thermometers foranalyzing and research purposes.Until 31 December 2010, the prohibition in the second paragraph does notapply to polarografer.IIThe amendment goes into effect on 1 January 2008.Comment to the regulation.For all instances where the use of dental materials under § 2-6, paragraph 7a) are under consideration, the National Clinical Guideline for the Use ofDental Filling Materials issued by the Directorate for Health and SocialWelfare should be respected.See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.