Parliament clears way for EU mercury ban 

The British Conservatives in Parliament had pushed for a permanent exemption on mercury-containing barometers as a way to protect "small businesses in an historic industry in the UK". The Conservatives also argued that health risks from mercury in barometers are negligible.

Environmental groups countered, saying that mercury is a dangerous substance, and that such a ban would not adversely affect business given modern alternatives to its use. 

British Conservative MEP Martin Callanan, a key proponent of the permanent exemption, lamented the outcome of the committee meeting and criticised the British government's lack of support: "I am extremely disappointed at the result of the vote today and am particularly annoyed at the lack of support from the British government who yet again are prepared to see hundreds of years of British tradition destroyed and the production of barometers banned." Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies was also in favor of the exemption.

According to the UK's Daily Telegraph, Philip Collins, secretary of the British Barometer Makers Association, said that the vote "sounded the death-knell for centuries of craft".

A group of European campaigners against mercury, including the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Health & Environment Alliance, published a press release applauding the committee's vote as a "victory for common sense" and a "great source of relief". In reference to the agreement reached between Council and Parliament on barometers and blood pressure devices, the group added that "this is the best compromise we can realistically hope to obtain".