Barometer exemption from mercury ban welcome - Watson

4.23.15pm GMT Tue 14th Mar 2006

The European Parliament today voted on legislation designed to protect the environment from the potential dangers caused by mercury spills. But a last-minute amendment to exempt businesses such as Barometer World near Okehampton in Devon, supported by South West Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson, will allow the production and marketing of traditional mercury barometers to continue.

Speaking after today's vote in Strasbourg, Mr Watson commented:

"Some control of mercury is necessary to protect consumers. However, preventing the repair of traditional barometers would have had the opposite effect - people would have simply dumped their broken barometers, putting mercury straight back into the soil and water. As long as mercury barometers are produced then mercury stays out of our ecosystem. The amendment we passed today will allow companies such as Barometer World to continue a great English tradition of mercury barometers."