• OSPAR calls on European countries to reduce presence of certain Brominated Flame Retardants in the marine environment to levels which are not harmful to man or the environment by 2020


• Contrary to some misperceptions, OSPAR is not advocating a ban of BFRs


• BSEF is supporting efforts to achieve OSPAR’s goals through an emissions reduction programme covering both BFRs production and customer industries

During the last OSPAR meeting, on 11 April 2003, the lead country Sweden presented an updated table of progress on actions taken on brominated flame retardants in the framework of the EU (Hazardous Substances Committee, HSC 03/4/14). HSC noted the progress made and in particular that directives had been adopted concerning restrictions on marketing and use (76/769/EEC), concerning waste from electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) and restrictions on the use of hazardous substances in electric and electronic equipment (RoHs). Sweden had reviewed the 2001 background document on brominated flame retardants and had come to the conclusion that a revision in 2003/2004 was not necessary. HSC agreed that a next full review of the background document should not be carried out before 2008.

What is OSPAR?

OSPAR is short for the Oslo-Paris Convention which is an environmental agreement between the countries bordering the North Sea and North Atlantic. The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic,is an international agreement ratified by the EU and by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The OSPAR Convention entered into force on 25 March 1998."

What are the OSPAR lists of substances?

OSPAR has drawn up a list of chemicals that it wishes to prioritise for further investigation.

The OSPAR list of substances is not a list of chemicals to be phased out or banned, as suggested by the environment groups, but rather a list of chemicals that needs to be investigated.

OSPAR also envisages reduction measures as a common alternative to reach the goal of “background levels”, levels that are not harmful to man or nature by 2020.

The Bromine industry has already launched an “Enhanced Product Stewardship” throughout the manufacturing processing to reduce emissions significantly through waste management.

OSPAR is relying on EU Risk Assessment results

The OSPAR Commission is closely co-operating with the European Commission responsible for the EU risk assessment. Three BFRs (deca-BDE, HBCD and TBBPA) are currently undergoing Risk Assessment and conclusions will be available by June 2003 for Deca-BDE and by 2004 for HBCD and TBBPA. The EU Commission will then decide on appropriate measures to be taken for each of the substances.

OSPAR has limited the scope of its review of BFRs to those BFRs for which an EU Risk Assessment is in the process of being completed. OSPAR has concluded that it will need to take account of the risk assessment results.