Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 230/2/12

21 September 2007

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 353/2007

European Union (EU)* : Restrictions on the Use of Certain Hair Dye Chemicals

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 304/2006 of 9 August 2006, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Directive to impose restrictions on certain hair dye chemicals. Details are set out in Commission Directive 2007/54/EC (the Directive). The Directive can be accessed through the following link :
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_226/l_22620070830en00210027.pdf.

DETAILS

2. In order to protect the health of consumers, the EU authorities considered that 85 hair dye chemicals should be prohibited while the use of some others should be limited to certain conditions. Details are set out in sections (1) and (2) of the Annex to the Directive respectively. The provisions of the Directive will be effective from 18 June 2008.
   
   
3. Separately, the Commission is now conducting a public consultation on a proposed ban on the use of 49 hair dye substances. All interested parties, including authorities of the Member States, manufacturers and related industries and consumers associations are invited to submit comments and information on the possible impact on the proposed ban. The deadline for the public consultation is 10 October 2007. Details of the public consultation and the list of the 49 hair dye substances proposed to be banned can be found at the following link: 
   http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/doc/consultation_ban_49_2007_08.pdf.
   

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Cyrus NG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.