BRUSSELS -- The EU has exempted the flame retardant known as Deca-BDE from the Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances, following an intensive review.

Germany's EPA is opposing the move.
The EU published its decision -- the final step in the RoHS regulatory procedure for adopting exemptions -- on Oct. 15. This means Deca-BDE can continued to be used. 

The Commission’s decision was based on a 10-year EU risk assessment which evaluated 588 studies and concluded that the use of Deca-BDE does not pose health or environmental risks.

The decision is in line with the majority opinion of EU Member States which by a two-to-1 margin voted last month to exempt Deca-BDE.

Deca-BDE is a brominated flame retardant used to prevent ignition and slow the spread of fires in the plastic components of electrical and electronics equipment, as well as in the textiles and transportation industries.

The move is opposed by the German Federal Environmental Agency ("Umweltbundesamt" or UBA). In a press statement, the UBA said that lifting the ban on Deca-BDE would send the wrong signal to industry. Many manufacturers, according to the UBA, have already voluntarily switched to substitutes and an exemption for Deca-BDE would render their investments worthless.

The UBA has argued that Deca-BDE should be prohibited based on its properties, including its persistence and alleged dioxin and furan release upon combustion. Further, there are substitutes for Deca-BDE in all areas of its application, the UBA argues.

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