Oslo - The environmental authorities in Norway have banned several brominated flame retardants because the substances have health and environmental damage. Now Climate and Pollution Control Directorate (Klif) leads international efforts for a global ban on the brominated flame retardant HBCDD.

The environmental authorities in Norway believe that HBCDD (hexabromocyclododecane) is a heavily degradable environmental toxin that spreads over long distances. Norways own environmental monitoring shows that this material is dispersed by air currents from the contaminated areas in Europe and North America to the Arctic.

"We are concerned because we find high levels of HBCDD in Arctic animals. It is therefore important to put in place a global ban on the brominated flame retardant. We lead the international effort to get states to agree on this", said Marit Kjeldby from the Department of Climate and Pollution Control Directorate.

Norway leads the work

Norway has ruled - in favor of the HBCDD may be an environmental toxin that spreads over long distances - by the international expert committee under the UN agreement for persistent organic pollutants (Stockholm Convention).

"We are currently investigating the risks of this use of brominated flame retardant is global. There has been extensive work which we have reviewed scientific data from around the world. Data from the Norwegian environmental monitoring in the Arctic also plays an important role. We conclude that it is necessary to prohibit HBCDD products. If the international expert committee supports our conclusion, it can be a global ban, "said Marit Kjeldby. Norway's report on HBCDD will become the basis for discussions in the global expert group in October.

HBCDD may not longer be in use in Norwegian products made for the Norwegian market, but can occur in imported products, insulation materials, textiles and electronic items.

Translation: Google

Quelle: Climate and Pollution Control Directorate (Klif)

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