EU Considers Banning Phosphates Too
Nov 09, 2010
By , waterworld.com
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November 5, 2010 — A plan to ban phosphates in laundry detergents has been announced for the EU. The European Commission said the plan will mean better water quality for all.
The Commission says the ban, which needs approval from EU ministers, would not apply to detergents used in automatic dishwashers or those used by professionals—because technically and economically viable alternatives are not yet available in the EU, reports the article.
But harmonized rules banning phosphates—including nitrates—in laundry detergent would cut pollution in lakes, rivers, and seas.
Phosphates are mainly used in detergents to improve cleaning by softening hard water, reports the article. The main sources of phosphate pollution in water are agriculture and sewage, with detergents the third largest culprit.
The problem is that national standards of phosphate control differ across the EU: Some countries impose restrictions, while others leave phosphate levels up to detergent manufacturers.
Antonio Tajani, Europe commissioner for industry and enterprise, said it was time to agree common rules in everyone's environmental interests.
"The proposal will ensure that European citizens benefit from an increased water quality in their lakes, rivers and marine waters, while keeping European companies at the forefront of this sector.''
The Commission says there are already cost-effective alternatives for laundry detergents - although some alternatives contain a form of phosphorous which is also an environmental risk in high concentrations.
Therefore, as well as a phosphates ban from the start of 2013, the Commission wants severe limits on the use of phosphorous in laundry detergents from that date - just 0.5% of the total weight of the cleaning products.
The Commission says, once agreed, the proposal would be followed up by 2015 with a review of automatic dishwasher detergents.
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