G/TBT/N/EU/321  
 
16 October 2015  
(15-5439)  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 [ ], 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): Diaphragms (used in 
electrolysis installations) that contain asbestos (chrysotile) fibres and the fibres themselves 
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 asbestos fibres (chrysotile) (4 pages + Annex 2 pages, in English)  
6. Description of content: The draft Regulation amends the current restriction on the 
manufacture, placing on the market and use of asbestos (chrysotile) fibres and of articles 
and mixtures containing these fibres added intentionally. More specifically the measure:  
 brings to an end the possibility that allows the Member State to permit, pursuant to 
the terms of the existing restriction, the placing on the market of diaphragms containing chrysotile in existing electrolysis installations and of chrysotile fibres for 
the maintenance of such diaphragms.  
 limits until 30 June 2025 the duration of the exemptions granted by Member States 
for the use of diaphragms containing chrysotile and of chrysotile fibres used 
exclusively in their maintenance. 
An annual reporting requirement is also introduced. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: The measure is proposed in order to further the objective of phasing out the 
use of chrysotile in the EU. The proposed me asure takes into account the specificities of 
the only two remaining electrolysis installations in Europe where diaphragms containing 
chrysotile are still in use. G/TBT/N/EU/321 
 
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  8. Relevant documents:  
 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 
(REACH Regulation): http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1444743131751&uri=CELEX:32006R1907  
 The opinions of the Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-economic 
Analysis (SEAC): http://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/a47c93cb-5003-4850-
86aa-e3a3453215ff  
9. Proposed date of adoption: First quarter 2016 
Proposed date of entry into force: Second quarter 2016   
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/2015/TBT/EEC/15_4115_00_e.pdf   
https://members. wto.org/crnattachments/2015/TBT/EEC/15_4115_01_e.pdf