G/TBT/N/EU/372  
 
21 April 2016  
(16-2246)  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 telephon e 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/   
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 applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable): Thermal paper 
containing bisphenol A in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.02% by weight 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft Commission 
Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regula tion (EC) No 1907/2 006 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and 
Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards bisphenol A (4 pages + Annex 2 pages, in English) 
6. Description of content: This draft Regulation relates to a new entry in Annex XVII to 
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.  
It would restrict the placing on the market of thermal paper containing bisphenol A in a 
concentration equal to or greater than 0.02% by weight. 
Application of the restriction is deferred for three years to allow industry sufficient time to 
comply with the obligations described above. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: The exposure to bisphenol A from thermal paper receipts causes a risk to 
workers (cashiers).  
The proposed restriction would also protect consumers as it would apply to the placing on 
the market of thermal papers. No significan t burden on industry, the supply chain or 
consumers is expected. Bisphenol A has already been largely substituted by other 
substances. G/TBT/N/EU/372 
 
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  8. Relevant documents:  
 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the Europe an 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=1423064258789&uri=CELEX:32006R1907  
 The opinions of the Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic 
Analysis (SEAC): http://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/9ce0977b-3540-4de0-
af6d-16ad6e78ff20  
 Further background information is available at: http://echa.europa.eu/previous-
consultations-on-restriction-proposals/-/substance-rev/1894/term  
9. Proposed date of adoption: Second half of 2016 
Proposed date of entry into force: 20 days from publication in the Official Journal of the 
EU (the restriction will begin to apply three 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 Website: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/tbt/   
https://members. wto.org/crnattachments/2016/TBT/EEC/16_1583_00_e.pdf   
https://members. wto.org/crnattachments/2016/TBT/EEC/16_1583_01_e.pdf