§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been made by any institution of the European Economic Community which would have the effect of reducing the present standard of 90 per cent. bio-degradability of detergents marketed in the United Kingdom; and what estimate he has made of the effect that any reduction of this standard would have on the operation and efficiency of sewage works.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe Commission of the European Communities has proposed a directive which would require certain categories of detergents to attain a minimum level of biodegradability of 80 per cent, and which would permit free trade within the Community of all detergents which did so. This proposal is now under discussion and the United Kingdom, with its existing achievement of 90 per cent, for the detergents most widely used in this country, is resisting any action which might place the existing quality of our environment in jeopardy.