“The UK Chamber has been working intensively to ensure that UK MEPs [European Members of Parliament] were fully aware of the proposed levy’s consequences on ships calling at EU ports, which would have deterred uptake of the truly international Hong Kong Convention, designed to improve standards for workers and the environment in recycling facilities globally,” said the Chamber’s director general, Mark Brownrigg.
“Without the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention, the poor standards encountered in some facilities around the world would be perpetuated; a levy also had the potential to harm European trade, as well as driving more transport onto the continent’s roads with consequent rises in traffic and greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
“The proposals took the form of suggested amendments by the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, which had not sought the advice of its peers in shipping and ports, to the positive work already being carried out by the European Commission which is largely supportive of the Hong Kong Convention”.
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