ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FLAME RETARDANTS

That this House welcomes the recent European Court of Justice ruling to overturn the exemption granted to the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ethers (Deca-BDE) under the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment; notes with concern the research into Deca-BDE, which has found that it can bio-accumulate in the bodies of animals and degrade into toxic and carcinogenic forms in the environment; further notes the Swedish Chemicals Agency report in November 2004, which found that there were indications that the brominated flame retardant Deca-BDE could interfere with the development of the brain and has been found in human breast milk; consequently calls on the Government to ensure that the ban on Deca-BDE is extended to cover not only electronics, but also medical devices and textiles when this legislation is reviewed towards the end of 2008; and further calls on the Government as the environmental rapporteur to make a commitment to encourage the use of halogen-free flame retardants in the United Kingdom.