EU Bans on TBT Anti-Fouling Systems on EU Ships

On May 9, the final version of EC Regulation 782/2003 on the prohibition of organotin compounds on ships was published in the European Official Journal. It entered into force the following day. This Regulation bans the fresh application of TBT antifouling paints on EU-flagged vessels from July 1, 2003 and forbids the existence of TBT on all ships entering a port or offshore terminal of an EU Member State from January 1, 2008. At the international level, the IMO Convention of October 5, 2001 on the control of harmful antifouling systems on ships (AFS Convention) will regulate tin based coatings. It initially proposed to ban the application of TBT anti-fouling paints from January 1, 2003 and the existence of it from January 1, 2008.