Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 6

RemovedEXPLANATORY STATEMENT

AddedRegulation (EU) 2017/852

RemovedExtensive research has brought to light the impacts of mercury, making a ban on this substance in specific products a critical step in line with the Union's commitment to environmental protection and public health. While the market readily offers substitutes for certain mercury-added products like lamps, enabling their gradual phase-out, other products cannot be replaced as easily and need to be approached in a more differentiated manner as proposed by the European Commission.

AddedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 c (new), Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new): (1c) In Article 19, the following paragraph is inserted: / ‘1a. By 31 December 2025, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the reduction of mercury emissions and releases from crematoria on the basis of the reporting referred to in Article 18(3a) and, where appropriate, draft guidelines on the abatement technologies to control and reduce mercury emissions and releases from crematoria, taking into account existing guidelines.’

RemovedDental amalgam is still widely used in some Member States. Its complete ban would pose problems for specific patient groups. While there is a clear trend in dental medicine to move away from the use of dental amalgam and to prioritise the use of alternatives instead, the transition cannot be rushed. Appropriate transition periods must be granted in order for doctors to undergo necessary training and for the national health insurance schemes to adjust their reimbursement policies accordingly. On top of that, the ban of dental amalgam must not lead to further economic costs for vulnerable groups. To ensure the best service, doctors must be able to treat patients with specific medical needs with dental amalgam if strictly necessary. Therefore, in my report I support the European Commission’s approach on the exemption in extraordinary circumstances and suggest to slightly push the date of the ban of the use of amalgam back until 1 January 2027. This should allow all Member States and national health insurance schemes to adjust their frameworks appropriately.

AddedRegulation (EU) 2017/852

RemovedI propose to change the date of the ban on the manufacture and export of amalgam to 1 January 2027 as well in order to ensure that the demand of dental amalgam during the transition period can be met.

AddedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 d (new), Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new): (1d) In Article 19, the following paragraph is inserted: / ‘2a. By 30 June 2026, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council assessing the feasibility of withdrawing the exemptions for the use of dental amalgam, referred to in Article 10, by 2030. That report shall also outline the impact on the health of patients generally and patients dependent on amalgam fillings. / The Commission shall, where appropriate, propose measures, together with its report referred to in the first subparagraph. / At the latest by 31 December 2026, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on: / (a) the implementation and enforcement of the Convention including as regards the phase-out of mercury in cosmetics by 2025 by the Parties to the Convention and controlling and eliminating the manufacturing, import and export of mercury compounds for illegal practices within the Union and globally; / (b) the need to phase out remaining mercury uses, such as in lighthouses and porosimetry; / (c) the necessity to expand the list of mercury waste sources referred to in Article 11. / Together with its report referred to in the third subparagraph of this paragraph, the Commission shall, where appropriate, propose measures, such as a review of Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a and restrictions of exports of mercuric azanide chloride (HgNH2Cl). / 1a Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 of the European Parliament…

RemovedIn general, the supply of dental amalgam for specific needs should be guaranteed, even after the ban on manufacture of dental amalgam takes effect, in order to avoid price increases for patients with specific medical needs.

AddedRegulation (EU) 2017/852

AddedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 e (new), Article 19 – paragraph 3: (1d) In Article 19, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: / "3. The Commission shall, if appropriate, present a legislative proposal together with its reports referred to in this Article."

Added(02017R0852)

AddedRegulation (EU) 2017/852

AddedRegulation (EU) 2017/852

AddedRegulation (EU) 2017/852