European Commission rejects cyanide ban

Enviromine

The European Commission has rejected a proposed Europe-wide ban on cyanide use in mining activity after deciding that the ban was not justified from an environmental or health perspective.

In a statement on behalf of the commission to the European Parliament, Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment, said: “The commission considers that a general ban of cyanide in mining is not justified from environmental and health point of views”.

Mr Potočnik added that a general ban on cyanide use would result in the closure of existing mines operating in safe conditions, and would have a detrimental effect on employment.
Eight countries in the European Union currently have producing gold mines (Sweden, Finland, Turkey, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Ireland and Romania) employing more than 16,000 people.

The commission further added that “existing legislation, notably on the management of extractive waste (Directive 2006/21/EC), includes precise and strict requirements ensuring an appropriate safety level of the mining waste facilities”.

The commission’s decision has been welcomed by the European Association of Mining Industries, Metal Ores & Industrial Minerals (Euromines), which represents gold producers and exploration companies operating in Europe.

Euromines said: “European Union regulation applicable to the presence of cyanide and cyanide compounds in mining waste is one of the most stringent legal regimes worldwide to safeguard human health and the environment”.