EU bans mercury in barometers, thermometers

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) – Tapping a barometer to check the weather may become a thing of the past after the European Parliament on Tuesday adopted new rules to scrap the use of mercury and protect the environment.

The European Union assembly agreed to ban the sale of non-electrical instruments containing the toxic heavy metal, such as thermometers for taking people’s temperatures at home.

The ban, already endorsed by EU states, will apply to new devices only. Existing instruments or antiques can still be repaired or bought and sold second-hand.

EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said the rules will come into force soon and reduce the bloc’s mercury emissions by 33 tonnes a year.

Thermometers alone account for 25 to 30 tonnes, for which there are now non-mercury alternatives, he said.