Commercial Information Circulars

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Ref : EIC 230/4/2

18 February 2003

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No.55/2003

European Union (EU)* :Restrictions on the Marketing and Use of an Azo-dye - the 'Blue Colourant'

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 188/2002 of 27 September 2002, the European Commission (EC) has adopted a Directive to control the marketing and use of blue colourant, a type of azo-dye for colouring textile and leather articles. A copy of the Commission Directive (2003/3/EC) is attached (pdf format)  to this Circular for reference.

DETAILS

2. According to the risk assessment carried out by the EC, the blue colourant, which is commonly released into waste-water during the colouring process, has a high aquatic toxicity. Restriction on its usage is required in order to protect the environment. Under the Directive, blue colourant may not be placed on the market or used for colouring textile and leather articles as a substance or constituent of preparations in concentrations higher than 0.1% by mass. Members States are required to transpose the Directive into their national laws by 31 December 2003 at the latest and put into effect the provisions of the Directive as from 30 June 2004.

ENQUIRIES

3. 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.