The European Union Commission is considering lifting the ban on US poultry treated with antimicrobial substances, a move that is opposed by European consumers organizations, the European poultry industry, farmers unions and environmental and health NGOs. It is not the first time European constituents are expressing concerns over US agricultural products (GMOs are at the center of a much heated debate at the moment while growth hormones are banned). It is very tempting to accuse them of protectionism, a political game EU members seem to have perfected hiding behind consumer safety or even cultural exception. Yeah, that would be easy. But again, can we seriously blame them to be worried about their health and safety. Continue Reading »

Penta, deca, octa are not pets’ names but chemistry names (actually the number of bromine atoms per molecule of diphenyl ether) for a family of polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE) used to retard combustion of electrical and electronic equipment that would be caused by an internal ignition or a small external flame like a … candle. In an unprecedented move, the European Court of Justice restored the ban against decaBDE.
It might sound like a middle age battle, as the Kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark and Norway were fighting the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Besides this – amusing – detail of history, this episode translates the growing concerns of the hazardous impact of brominated and chlorinated halogens and hydrocarbons on human health and the environment. It is also a display of the PR and lobbying efforts of bromine manufacturers to make fire resistant testing always more stringent. The tactic is simple: fear and fact manipulation. On the other side, 120 distinguished scientists, biologists, researchers and physicians have come together to rebut these facts and warn the electrical and electronic community of the potentially harmful consequences of enabling this new standards. Click here to access the court order.