§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he is taking to advise chandlers and other sailing shops as to anti-fouling paint legislation; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what steps the Government is taking to see that antifouling paint is not available for purchase in shops throughout the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Control of Pollution (Anti-fouling Paint) Regulations 1985 came into force on 13 January 1986. The regulations limit the use of organotin compounds in anti-fouling paints supplied through retail outlets. Paint manufacturers in the United Kingdom have undertaken to supply, for retail sale, only paints which comply with the regulations.
Extensive consultation on the nature and content of the regulations took place during 1985. The large volume of correspondence arising from the consultation, and the publicity given to the subject, suggest that it is unlikely that any significant body of paint retailers remains ignorant of the actions proposed and subsequently taken by the Government. Copies of the regulations were sent to the associations representing the paint manufacturers and their customers well before the regulations came into force. Earlier this month the Department also wrote to associations representing the paint manufacturers and retail suppliers reminding them of the desirability of informing their members and customers about the requirements of the regulations.
670WThe Department, jointly with the Welsh Office, will shortly issue a circular to local authorities in England and Wales giving guidance on the enforcement of the regulations. The local authority associations have agreed that Trading Standards Officers will monitor compliance and, where appropriate, will collect evidence which might be used in prosecutions. Similar arrangements are being made in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.
A list of paints which manufacturers have indicated comply with the regulations is set out below and will be included in the circular. Samples of the paints on this list will be checked by the laboratory of the Government Chemist. The list will be updated as necessary. Full publicity will be given to the arrangements set out in the circular and, in particular, to the list of paints.
The Government's aim is that no manufacturer, distributor, supplier or user of anti-fouling paints should be able reasonably to claim ignorance of the controls now in force.
Paint formulations which manufacturers have indicated comply with the regulations Manufacturer/Supplier Brand Name International paint PLC Micron 25 Cruiser Extra hard Racing Middle Sea Trawler Blakes paints Ltd. Tiger Copolymer Titan II Hempels Marine Paints Ltd. Antifouling Forte 7260 Sigma Coatings Ltd. Sigmaplane Geedon Marine Ltd. VC17m (Tropicana) VC17m EP (Blue Hat) VC602 Prop-O-Drev Devoe Coatings BV ABC-AF No 3 Devran 223 Sikkens BV Ruwa Antifouling —Special White —Special blue Ruwa Selfpolishing —White —Signal Red —T727 —Blue-1 Vinyl Antifouling TL Ruwa Antifouling Extra Strong Ruwa Bronze Bottom Paint