Commercial Information Circulars

Ref : EIC 230/4/2 VI

17 July 1998

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 101/98

The Netherlands : Ban on the Use of Carcinogenic Azo Dyes

Commercial Information Circular No. 94/96 of 31 August 1996 announced the Netherlands' ban on the use of carcinogenic azo dyes. The Department has recently received information that the Netherlands has adopted a further decree to ban permanently the use of carcinogenic azo dyes with effect from 19 June 1998. An unofficial English translation of the decree is appended (pdf format) to this circular for reference.

DETAILS

2. On 1 August 1996, the Dutch authorities introduced a ban prohibiting trade in clothing, footwear and bedlinen containing azo dyes which may form carcinogenic amines. The Dutch authorities has now published a decree on 18 June 1998 to make the above ban permanent.

3. The permanent ban effected by the decree is basically the same as the ban introduced on 1 August 1996. It covers 20 carcinogenic amines and around 90 azo dyes from which aromatic amines may be formed. Azo dyes in the form of pigments are excluded from the ban. The decree specifies testing methods in more detail for deciding whether the clothing, footwear and bedlinen concerned contain the banned amines.

4. The decree continues to provide for a transitional period for the following types of products:

1. second-hand clothing, footwear and bedlinen;
2. clothing, footwear and bedlinen used for personal protection purpose; and
3. clothing, footwear and bedlinen made from recycled (wool) fibres containing the banned azo dyes.

These products may continue to be traded in the market until 31 December 1999. Exporters are however reminded that the transitional period for selling the banned clothing, footwear and bedlinen in the market has expired with effect from 1 September 1997, and is thus not mentioned in the decree.

ENQUIRIES

5. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact Miss Helen YUNG at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Priscilla LIU)

for Director-General of Trade

Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.