Eliminating phosphates in household laundry detergents has been clearly demonstrated as one of the most effective short-term measures for reducing phosphorus pollution within the Danube River Basin; the ICPDR has played a vital role in winning support for this groundbreaking proposal.

Phosphates are used in detergents to combat water hardness in order to allow efficient cleaning. However, phosphates can contribute to adverse effects in the aquatic environment, such as an excess of nutrients, which causes eutrophication - an accelerated growth of algae and plants leading to a disturbance to the balance of organisms. Alternative water-softening ingredients are available, but with various performance limitations, particularly for demanding cleaning tasks.

The existing Detergent Regulation [(EC) No 648/2004] harmonises the process of placing detergents on the market, but only with respect to the labelling of detergents and the biodegradability of the surfactants they contain.

The proposal, which is now adopted and will become law in early 2011 unless amended by the Parliament or Council, aims to amend the Detergent Regulation by introducing a limitation on the content of phosphates and others phosphorous compounds in household laundry detergents. This approach by the EU Commission is welcomed by the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (AISE) “We are in favour of this approach across the EU as we consider this a major step in the development of a harmonised and consistent approach as well as a contribution to a better functioning of the internal market,” says Susanne Zänker, Director General of AISE.

Helping countries meet water standards. The amended Regulation would clearly help to decrease detergents’ contribution to the overall eutrophication of EU surface waters, as also requested by the EU Water Framework Directive, which requires Member States to achieve good ecological and chemical status of surface water by 2015. To this end, Members States are required to prepare a programme of measures, which may include cost effective and proportionate, mandatory action or voluntary agreements to limit phosphates in detergents in order to tackle the eutrophication problem in their territories. Indeed efforts to combat eutrophication resulting from transboundary flows of phosphates into water bodies have progressed slowly until now.

“The ICPDR welcomes the proposal wholeheartedly, as it is a wonderful complementary measure for the success of the activities of international cooperation to combat the transboundary problem of eutrophication in rivers, such as the Danube,” says Philip Weller, Executive Secretary of the ICPDR Secretariat.

Jasmine Bachmann is the Executive Editor of Danube Watch.