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Press Release

MEPs must vote out ‘crazy’ mercury law, says FSB

Monday 13 November 2006

In the run-up to a crucial vote in the European Parliament on Tuesday the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on MEPs to reject the current proposals in the draft Directive relating to the use of mercury in measuring devices.

The Directive would ban the use of mercury in barometers, ending a traditional manufacturing business in the UK that dates back to the 1600s. It would also lead to more mercury entering the environment as people throw away old barometers because they can no longer get them repaired.

An amendment has been tabled that would change the legislation to avoid this and the FSB is urging MEPs to back it. Martin Callanan MEP has tabled the amendment following pressure from a UK businessman.

Philip Collins is based in the South West. His firm repairs barometers, providing a niche service in the UK only provided by one other firm in the whole country. Both would be out of business if this law is passed in the European Parliament. Their firms keep mercury out of the environment by repairing these instruments and avoiding people throwing them away. The perverse result of this legislation, were it to be passed without amendment, would see more mercury enter the environment.

Tina Sommer, FSB European Affairs Chairman, said:

“It is very ironic that a green EU plan will likely cause more harm to the environment rather than less. However, that irony is lost on businesses that work with mercury.

“They will go out of business because of this short-sighted, crazy, legislation. We call on MEPs to support the amendment in their forthcoming plenary session to protect both small businesses operating in a niche market and also the environment.”



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Federation of Small Businesses

Federation of Small Businesses

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