Phosphates to be banned by EU

EU lawmakers are expected to virtually ban phosphates in dishwasher and laundry soap in an effort to curb the pollution of algae in rivers, lakes and seas from 2013.

The Danube River and Baltic Sea have particularly suffered from the increase of phosphates, leading to a build up of algae which can starve fish of oxygen. The legislation is expected to be rubber-stamped by EU member states in the coming months, which will lead to the chemical being reduced by half a gram in soap per dose from 2013 and even less in washing powder from 2017.

Environmental campaigners, however, have said the rules would come too late to save some EU waters.

"(The legislation) is paving the way for the most cost-effective solution to reduce the algal blooms in our rivers, lakes and seas," said Sergey Moroz from environmental group WWF.

"Unfortunately, by setting excessive deadlines, the regulation lacks the sense of urgency needed to finally bring life back to the Danube and the dead areas of the Baltic or the Black Sea.

EU states including Germany, France, Britain and Italy have already banned or limited phosphate use in laundry soap, which along with dishwasher detergent is the third biggest source of phosphate discharge after farming and sewage.

France will impose a ban for dishwasher detergent by 2012, while Sweden and Finland are considering similar action.

Lawmakers also agreed to set a 2015 deadline to consider further cuts in consumer chemicals but removed a proposal to act on phosphate in industrial detergents.

Posted by Lauren Steadman