Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to encourage the International Maritime Organisation to introduce a total prohibition on the use of tributylin (TBT) antifouling paint on commercial vessels; and when they expect such a ban to come into effect. [HL3279]
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)Her Majesty's Government supported the International Maritime Organisation's Assembly Resolution A.895(21), which states that a legally binding instrument should be developed to ensure a global prohibition of the application of organotin compounds acting as biocides in anti-fouling systems on ships by 1 January 2003 and a complete prohibition of the presence of such compounds on ships by 1 January 2008. The aim is for the draft international convention to be adopted at a diplomatic conference in October 2001.