Amalgamverbot in Norwegen überholt Deutschland
The following is a translation of the Norwegian regulation banning the use of mercury in products,
translated by Maryanne Rygg (mrygg@online.no).
Established by the Norwegian
Ministry of the Environment on 14 December 2007, by authority in the law of 11
June 1979 regarding supervision of products and consumer services (product
supervision/inspection) § 4. See law of 17 December 2004, No. 101, on European
obligation to report on technical rules (European Economic Agreement
consultation law) and Directive 98/34/EF, amended by Directive 98/48/EF.
In the regulation of 1 June 2004, No. 922, on restrictions on the use
of chemicals and other products that endanger health and the environment (produktforskriften), the following
amendments are hereby made:
The amended § 2-6 shall now read:
§ 2-6. Mercury and mercury compounds
It
is prohibited to produce, import, export, sell or use materials/substances or
material combinations that contain mercury or mercury compounds.
It
is prohibited to produce, import, export or sell finished products that contain
mercury or mercury compounds.
The
prohibitions in the first and second paragraphs do not include mercury that is
naturally contained in coal, ore, or ore concentrations.
The
prohibitions in the first and second paragraphs also do not include packaging,
batteries, components in motor vehicles or electric and electronic products and
equipment that are covered by the §§ 3-11, 3-13 to 3-15 and 3-17 to 3-19 of
this regulation.
The
bans in the first and second paragraphs do not cover
materials/substances/combinations and finished products where the content of
mercury or mercury compounds is lower than 0.001 per cent by weight.
The
prohibition in the first paragraph does not apply to tiomersal as preservative
in vaccines.
Until
31 December 2010, the prohibition in the first paragraph does not apply to:
a) amalgam used in dental treatment for
patients that must be treated under anesthesia or who are allergic to
ingredients in other dental filling materials,
b) contact materials in welding machines.
The
prohibition in the second paragraph includes mercury thermometers for analyzing
and research purposes.
Until
31 December 2010, the prohibition in the second paragraph does not apply to polarografer.
The amendment goes into effect on 1 January 2008.
Comment to the regulation.
For all instances where the use of dental materials under § 2-6,
paragraph 7 a) are under consideration, the National Clinical Guideline
for the Use of Dental Filling Materials issued by the Directorate for Health
and Social Welfare should be respected.