Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2/11

10 December 2005

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 517/2005

European Union (EU)* : Restrictions on the Marketing and Use of Toluene and Trichlorobenzene

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have adopted a Directive to control the marketing and use of toluene and trichlorobenzene. Member States are required to put the Directive into force with effect from 15 June 2007. Details are set out in Directive 2005/59/EC (the Directive), a copy  of which is attached (pdf format) to this circular for reference.

DETAILS

2. In order to protect human health and the environment, the EU authorities considered that certain uses of toluene and trichlorobenzene should be restricted. Application of toluene in adhesives and spray paints intended for sale to the general public, and all uses of trichlorobenzene (except used as an intermediate of synthesis, or as a process solvent in closed chemical applications for chlorination reactions, or in the manufacture of 1,3,5-trinitro-2,4,6-triaminobenzene) will fall under the restrictions. Under the Directive, in such cases, toluene and trichlorobenzene may not be placed on the market or used as a substance or constituent of preparations in a concentration equal to or higher than 0.1% by mass.

ENQUIRIES

3. For enquiries about the content 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 includes Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.