December 11, 1996

A major European organization recently failed to reach agreement on a far-reaching proposal to limit the use of alkylphenols and their derivative compounds. Proponents of the restrictions were unable to garner enough support to advance the proposal under the Oslo and Paris Conventions for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (OSPAR), an organization of most western European countries.

Representatives from Sweden in 1992 spearheaded an effort that resulted in a recommendation among Paris Convention countries to phase out nonylphenol ethoxylates in domestic and industrial cleaning products. Earlier this year Sweden proposed to OSPAR, the unofficial union of the Oslo and Paris organizations, that nonylphenol, octylphenol, and their ethoxylates be phased out of use in applications that result in exposure to the environment.

An OSPAR working group met in early October to consider Sweden's proposal. However, based in part on scientific data and product use information provided by the European surfactants industry (CESIO) and the APE Panel, the proposal did not command sufficient support. The OSPAR working group determined that the proposal needed credible information on environmental concentrations and effects of these materials. The working group established a subcommittee to gather information on product applications and the lack of available substitutes. Based on this new information, Sweden plans to introduce a new proposal early in 1997.

CESIO and the APE Panel will provide technical information to the working group. The APE Panel also will recommend that OSPAR take no action prior to reviewing an anticipated risk assessment on nonylphenol being conducted for the European Union. A draft of the risk assessment is expected in March.