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Nordhausen - Status for contracting of product stocks and equipment in Europe 
persants approved in other countries. It has to be noted, however, that different approval 
procedures can be a hindrance for using each other’s stockpiles. 
Currently approximately 75 brands of dispersants are approved for use in certain countries of 
Europe, although they may not be tested and approved for use in the same way, i.e. in all 
national approval procedures. However, the majority of dispersant stocked is limited to five 
brands (Figure 14.1 6 7 ). 
Tonnes 
EMSA 
UK 
■ Norway 
Malta 
■ Italy 
■ Greece 
■ France 
■ Belgium 
Figure 14.1: Brand and ownership of dispersant stockpiles in Europe (not including OSRL’s resources) 7 
EMSA as an Agency of the European Union is bound to EU procurement rules. These rules 
obviously also apply to EMSA’s purchase of dispersant stockpiles. The following Award Cri 
teria were applied: 
• Approval in many EU countries (e.g. in region of intended stockpile) 
• Low toxicity, dispersants with no aromatic solvents were preferred 
• High efficiency at broad range of oil viscosities 
• Price 
As a result of this procurement effort, EMSA established a ‘Framework Contract in Cascade’ 
with two dispersant manufacturers (Oleon and Dasic). These companies produce the disper 
sants Radiagreen OSD and Slickgone respectively. As both products are widely approved in 
Europe, EMSA can (easily) purchase dispersants with national approval(s) for nearly all Eu 
ropean Sea areas 8 . 
6 The figures are based on EMSA’s Inventory of national policies regarding the use of oil spill dispersants in the EU Member 
States (2014b). 
7 Threshold used : > 10 tonnes) 
8 It is acknowledged that the Contracting Parties to HELCOM are not using dispersants to combat oil spills in the Baltic Sea.