Council seeks ban on phosphates in detergents

摘要

The Council of Ministers has asked the European Commission to present, "without delay", proposals to ban phosphates in detergents, starting with laundry detergents for domestic use. Its request comes in the conclusions adopted on 22 December 2009 by the Environment Council on regional approaches to management of water and the marine environment, which also addresses the implementation of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region. The phenomenon of eutrophication - the 'asphyxiation' ofrnwaters due to a high level of phosphorus, which encourages the development of algae - is a particular threat to the Baltic.