March 24, 1997

The Swedish representative to the Oslo and Paris Commissions (OSPARCOM) announced on February 6, 1997, that, in view of the extensive new information made available, "it seems not appropriate at this time" to re-introduce a far-reaching proposal to limit the use of alkylphenols and their derivative compounds in Europe. The proposal had been scheduled to be revised and re-introduced this spring at OSPARCOM, which administers the Oslo and Paris Conventions for the Prevention of Marine Pollution. Most west European nations are contracting states to these conventions.

Representatives from Sweden in 1992 spearheaded an effort that resulted in a non-binding recommendation among Paris Convention countries to phase out nonylphenol ethoxylates in domestic and industrial cleaning products. Earlier last year Sweden proposed to OSPARCOM that nonylphenol, octylphenol, and their ethoxylates be phased out of use in applications that result in exposure to the environment.

An OSPARCOM 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 surfactants industry (CESIO and the CMA APE Panel) the proposal did not command sufficient support. The OSPARCOM 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 availability of substitutes. Based on this new information, Sweden was to introduce a new proposal early in 1997.

The Swedish representative to the OSPARCOM work group indicated that the subcommittee had received over 50 technical comments on the 1996 proposal. Instead of attempting to revise and re-introduce the proposal, the Swedish government will propose a workshop to be held later this year to compile and review the latest findings, including the biodegradation data on nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates submitted by the APE Panel.