Madam, - Despite some alarmist claims to the contrary, your readers can be assured that the European Union is not sounding the death knell for the Irish tradition of open caskets at wakes and funerals. Formaldehyde and other embalming chemicals will remain on the market until at least 2010.
These and other points were the subject of consultations attended by the Irish Association of Funeral Directors at the European Commission Representation in Ireland on Wednesday. The exchange of views was constructive and positive. A further meeting between the association and Commission officials in Brussels will be arranged to deal with detailed technical issues.
The Biocides Directive was enacted in 1998 to provide a high level of protection for humans, animals and the environment, as well as to create a single market for biocidal products. A European-level scientific evaluation of embalming chemicals will start in late 2008. This will assess any risks to funeral directors and their staff in the use of embalming chemicals. - Yours, etc,
MARTIN TERRITT, Director, European Commission Representation in Ireland, Dublin 2.