News

France bans phosphate in laundry detergents

ENDS Europe
Tuesday 3 April 2007

France has banned sales of laundry detergents containing phosphates in a bid to combat eutrophication of watercourses. A decree published last week in the national official journal bans all sales from 1 July. It does not cover industrial laundry detergents and dishwasher tablets. Domestic laundry detergents contribute to two per cent of phosphates levels in French urban wastewater discharges (EED 26/10/06). Several European countries have already introduced similar restrictions (EED 11/07/06).
* In a related development, Poland has announced that reducing phosphate detergent run-off into the Baltic sea will be a priority during its two-year chairmanship of the Helsinki marine protection commission (Helcom).  Poland assumed the role in January.

The full text of this article is only available to registered subscribers and free trialists. To login, please enter your email address and subscriber access code below.

Not a subscriber or free trialist? Why not take a free 14 day trial or subscribe today!

Having trouble logging in? Subscriber login details are included at the top of the ENDS Europe DAILY email. If you are having problems, please contact our helpdesk

Tweet
Article Index:

Danish presidency programme

The Danish government presents the programme of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union ‘Europe at work'

Denmark took over the presidency of the EU on 1 January.

Read ENDS article on its provisional agenda of meetings

See also its website and full programme of work officially presented on 6 January