EU eyes criminal sanctions for environmental breaches

LUXEMBOURG - The European Union needs new criminal sanctions against companies flouting environmental rules, the EU executive said on Monday, after a Dutch-chartered ship released waste blamed for killing 10 people in Ivory Coast.

The ship, which Ivory Coast says discharged toxic waste in the West African country, was given formal permission to leave Estonian waters earlier this month after unloading its waste for processing.

The Panamanian-registered Probo Koala was impounded on September 27 in the Estonian port of Paldiski, following a request by Ivory Coast where thousands of people suffered vomiting, stomach pains and other symptoms in late August.

Current EU rules forbid ships that contain hazardous waste from transferring that material outside OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries.

"The Commission feels that a minimum standard for the establishment of criminal sanctions for serious environmental offences, including illegal shipment of waste, at EU level is needed," the European Union's executive arm said in a statement.

"The European Commission intends to present a new proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law."

A spokeswoman for Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the proposal would be presented before the end of the year.

EU member states have previously rejected Commission attempts to make criminal sanctions law for different offences, but an EU court has ruled that the Commission had the right to do so in some cases.

Trafigura, the Dutch-based oil trading firm which chartered the tanker, said it was carrying routine petroleum "slops" from the inside of oil tanks and had not breached proper procedure in Africa.

- REUTERS