On 14 March the Plenary of the European Parliament adopted a bold resolution on the Community Strategy concerning mercury. In the resolution, the Parliament is clearly pushing the Commission to strengthen the strategy. An export ban is suggested by 2010, one year earlier than proposed, and the Parliament clarified that mercury compounds should be included in the export ban. The Parliament also requested restrictions to mercury in dental amalgams and in all measuring equipment used by consumers and professionals, such as at healthcare facilities.

The Parliament reiterated the EU's role in supporting and promoting international action, in line with the mercury export ban. It confirmed the importance of cooperating with mercury mining countries across the world with a view to reaching an agreement on a global legislative instrument on mercury. "During negotiations at the UNEP Governing Council in February 2007 the possibility of a legally binding instrument and other global mercury strategies will be discussed," said Michael Bender of the Ban Mercury Working Group. "So this is the right time to put forward key requests for the upcoming EU mercury meeting this October in Brussels, where other governments from around the globe will be invited into these discussions".

Full press release from environmental and health NGOs