Commercial Information Circulars

Ref : EIC 230/4/2 III

7 March 1996

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 25/96
Germany : Regulation on Harmful or Carcinogenic Substances

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 114/95 of 22 August 1995, the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has recently established a Voluntary Registration Scheme for Harmless Dyestuffs (VRS) to help the industries in Hong Kong to cope with the new German regulation on the prohibition on Azocolours. A copy of Health and Safety Standards Circular No. 1/96 issued by Hong Kong Government Industry Department on the scheme is appended to this circular for reference.

Details

2. Hong Kong Government Industry Department has earlier commissioned the ITC to establish the VRS. Since October 1995, a list of harmless dyestuffs commonly used in Hong Kong is promulgated to manufacturers through the Internet (the address is http://www.polyu.edu.hk/~itc). In addition, the ITC launched a certification scheme under the VRS on 7 February 1996. The objective is to provide certification to manufacturers certifying that the dyestuffs used in a particular lot of goods are included in the VRS and free of the banned amines.
    
3. Manufacturers and traders who wish to make use of the VRS may contact the ITC of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University by phone at 2766 6500 or by fax at 2773 1432.
    
4. The Department will continue to monitor developments and keep the trade informed as appropriate.

Enquiries

5. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone no. 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Alison MAK)
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.