Conference on Product Policy and Indoor Air Quality
On 23 and 24 September, the FPS for Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment organised a conference on Product Policy and Indoor Air Quality as part of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union.
The conclusions were presented this afternoon by the Minister in charge of the Environment, Paul Magnette. "For a long time, all the focus has been on the quality of outdoor air. In Europe, we spend an average of over 80% of our time indoors, be it at home, at school, at work or in public transport. Indoor air quality has significant impact on our health. Moreover, the quality of indoor air is further deteriorated by reinforced insulation in buildings and the use of certain products that are irritants or allergens."
This conference highlighted the ambitious initiatives taken by certain Member States. This is the case, for instance, in Scandinavian countries, which have opted for voluntary labelling of a wide range of products. France has developed a compulsory labelling system for building products and Germany is imposing an evaluation of these products. "Such initiatives should now be standardised to avoid any restriction of the free movement of goods within the EU", insisted the Presidency while drawing its conclusions.
Following discussions it was possible to identify the general orientation upheld by a large number of Member States as well as very concrete actions to be taken by the European Commission.
In order to ensure that indoor air quality receives the same attention as outdoor air or water, it is essential that a European institutional framework be set up. This framework must, above all else, enable us to define the main policy and technical guidelines for the years to come as well as to establish interrelations between policies in matters of health, environment, research and industry.The framework should also define a clear strategy for achieving the environmental health objectives set for 2020. "The drafting of a Green Paper is the first essential step towards a European institutional framework. One of its objectives is to give a clear picture of the current situation among Member States," Paul Magnette pointed out.
For the Belgian Presidency, one of the priorities has to be to cut down pollutant emissions at the very source. It is therefore essential to reduce noxious emissions present in building materials as well as all in household products, soft furnishings, floor coverings, etc. To achieve this, the EU needs to set criteria for defining what constitutes ‘good’ indoor air and draw up a list of priority substances.
Although there is still a long way to go before a harmonised products policy is elaborated, certain measures already in practice could be reinforced. It should be possible, for example, under the European or national eco-label systems, to refine the criteria relating to product emissions.It should be possible to either withdraw from the market certain products that contain or release substances that are a cause for concern or at least ensure that they comply with the minimum standards,thereby guaranteeing a high level of safety for everyone. "Purchasing safe products should be accessible to one and all, not just to a handful of privileged people who have access to information or financial resources. Only policy laying down the standards on products can offer this guarantee".
"We finally await the next European and Health Action Plan which is expected to address the challenge of products and indoor air quality among its priority areas". In 2011, the Commission will also have to respond to the European Parliament Resolution adopted in September 2008, on the mid-term review of the European Environment and Health Action Plan. According to the resolution, various ambitious measures should be taken to combat domestic pollution.
