G/TBT/N/EU/681  
16 September 2019  
(19-5898) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
European Commission  
EU-TBT Enquiry Point  
Fax: +(32) 2 299 80 43  
E-mail: grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu  
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools -databases/tbt/en/  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  
Diisocyanates  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Draft 
Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, 
Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards diisocyanates (4 pages + 
Annex 6 p ages, in English)  
6. Description of content:  This draft Regulation relates to a new entry of Annex XVII to 
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.  
It would restrict the use of diisocyanates as substances on their own, as a constituent in 
other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s), individually or in 
any combination of these di -isocyanates, in a concentration above 0.1% by weight. A 
derogation is provided for the placing on the market and use of these substances and 
mixtures if the employer or self -employed worker ensures that adequate training is 
successfully completed by the industrial and professional users prior to their  use.  
Application of the restriction is deferred for 2 years for use and 18 months for placing on 
the market of diisocyanates to allow sufficient time to adapt and achieve compliance with 
the regulation.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature o f urgent problems where 
applicable:  The exposure to diisocyanates in a concentration, individually or in any 
combination, equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight of the substances or mixtures poses 
a risk to human health, in particular a risk of occupation al asthma in workers. The aim of 
the restriction is to prevent worker exposure to diisocyanates; if sensitisation is prevented 
by the exposure to these substances, elicitation of hypersensitivity reactions upon re -
exposure would be avoided. The transitiona l period (2 years for use, 18 months for placing G/TBT/N/EU/681  
 
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  on the market) before the application of the proposed restriction will allow stakeholders 
sufficient time to comply with the proposed restriction and to ensure adequate 
communication throughout the supply ch ain. 
8. Relevant documents:   
• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 
the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH 
Regulation):  http://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -
content/EN/TXT/?qid=142 3064258789&uri=CELEX:32006R1907  
• The opinions of the Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio -economic 
Analysis (SEAC):  https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/d6794aa4 -8e3a-
6780-d079-77237244f5f9    
• Further background information is available at 
https://echa.europa.eu/nl/registry -of-restriction -intentions/ -
/dislist/details/0b0236e180876053  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  December 2019  
Proposed date of entry into force:  20 days from publication in the Official Journal of 
the EU (the restriction will begin to apply 2 years after the date of entry into force)  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
European  Commission  
EU-TBT Enquiry Point  
Fax: + (32) 2 299 80 43  
E-mail: grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu  
The text is available on the EU -TBT Website:  
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools -databases/tbt/en/  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/TBT/EEC/19_5064_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/TBT/EEC/19_5064_01_e.pdf