Germany Ombudsman recycling criticism
In an unusual intervention in a legal case involving a European Union (EU) member state, the European Ombudsman has criticised the European Commission for not taking action against a German packaging regulation. Nikiforos Diamandouros has accused the Commission of failing to uphold EU laws by not pushing Germany to implement a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that it broke EU free trade rules through its former mandatory drinks packaging returns system. The Commission could have asked the court to fine Germany, but it did not, claiming the judgment “did not provide a legal basis to require Germany to suspend the relevant rules”.
Toy ban phthalate inquiry
A plastics ingredient linked to chemicals banned in the European Union (EU) for toys can continue to be used by the food industry, because it is currently rarely utilised in Europe. The conclusion follows a detailed European Commission review of certain phthalates and other plasticisers that have been restricted over their incorporation in toys mouthed by children, sometimes causing illness. One such potential problem chemicals is monochloroacetic acid, used as an anti-microbial additive and a can coating for food packaging. The Commission dismissed concerns here, which could have sparked restrictions for the food sector because the acid does not have “significant consumer use in the EU”.
EU sunscreen labels reform
The European Commission has drafted formal guidelines for the sunscreen
industry, telling it to better label products, helping consumers use them and avoid sunburn, and maybe skin cancer. Brussels says UVA protection should be indicated in a uniform way, based on standardised tests, to help consumers compare sunscreen strength; claims of total protection - such as “sunblocker” -should disappear; also claims sunscreens provide sufficient protection for young children and babies should be banned; and labels should bear clear application instructions. EU health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: “Consumers must be made fully aware that no sunscreen product can provide 100% protection against hazardous UV-radiation.”
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/sunscreens/index_en.htm.
