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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : tidenq@tid.gcn.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2/11

15 August 2002

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 154/02

European Union (EU) *: Restrictions on the Marketing and Use of Certain Dangerous Substances - Short chain Chlorinated Paraffins

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have adopted a Directive to control the marketing and use of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The aims of the Directive are to protect the environment and to approximate the national laws of the Member States. A copy of the Directive 2002/45/EC is appended (pdf format )to this Circular for reference.

DETAILS

  1. SCCPs are very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. Restriction on its usage, in particular in metalworking fluids and leather finishing products, is required in order to protect the aquatic environment.
     
  2. Under the Directive, SCCPs may not be placed on the market for use as substances or as constituents of other substances or preparations in concentrations higher than 1% in metalworking and for fat liquoring of leather. All remaining uses of SCCPs will be reviewed by the European Commission before 1 January 2003 in the light of any new scientific data on risks posed by SCCPs to health and the environment.
     
  3. Member States are required to transpose the Directive into their national laws by 6 July 2003 and put into effect the provisions of the Directive by 6 January 2004 at the latest.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the contents of this Circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* : The EU Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.



  • 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.