Belgian TBT ban falls foul of EC Treaty

The European Commission has ruled that Belgium cannot introduce a ban on organotin marine anti-fouling paints from 2003 even though a global ban on the products is due to take effect in the same year. ¹ The case underlines the extra difficulties introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty for Member States wishing to pass unilateral environmental laws — and also points to a flaw in the Treaty which may inhibit national measures to protect humans from chemical intakes via food.