. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/EEC/166 
30 October 2007 
 (07-4686) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   European Commission 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:    
European Commission 
EC-TBT Enquiry Point Fax:  +(32) 2299 8043 E-mail:  ec-tbt@ec.europa.eu Website: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/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 applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):    
- 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGME) in paints  and paint strippers sold to the general 
public; 
- 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGBE) in sp ray paints sold to the general public; 
- methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in  products sold to the general public; 
- cyclohexane in neoprene-based adhesives sold to the general public; - ammonium nitrate in solid fertilisers. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Draft Decision of the 
European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 76/769/EEC as 
regards restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and 
preparations [2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol, 2 -(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, methylenediphenyl 
diisocyanate, cyclohexane and ammonium nitrate] (19 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:   The proposed Decision will amend Annex 1 of Directive 
76/769/EEC relating to restrictions on the ma rketing and use of certain substances and 
preparations, in particular: 2-(2-methoxyet hoxy)ethanol, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, 
methylenediphenyl diisocyanate, cyclohexane and ammonium nitrate. G/TBT/N/EEC/166 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  
The objectives of this draft Decision are: 
- to control the risks for consumers from the use of DEGME in paints and paint strippers 
during “Do-It-Yourself” applications; 
- to control the risks for consumers from the use of spray paints containing DEGBE at a 
concentration higher than 3% during “Do-It-Yourself” applications; 
- to control the risks for consumers from th e use of products containing MDI that result 
from exposure by skin contact and inhalati on during “Do-It-Yourself” applications; 
- to control the risks for consumers from the use of neoprene-based adhesives containing 
cyclohexane that result from exposure by inhalation during “Do-It-Yourself” 
applications; 
- to ensure a uniform high level of safety fo r farmers and distributors within the EU for 
all ammonium nitrate fertilisers, and to ensu re that high nitrogen fertilisers are available 
only for professional agricultural uses. 
8. Relevant documents:   Council Directive 76/769/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the 
approximation of the laws, regulations and admi nistrative provisions of the Member States 
relating to the restrictions on the marke ting and use of dangerous substances and 
preparations (OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 201) as last amended by Directive 2006/90/EC (OJ L 
384, 29.12.2006, p. 94). 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    January 2009 
March 2009 
10. Final date for comments:   60 days from date of notification. 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
European Commission 
EC-TBT Enquiry Point Fax: (+32) 2299 8043 E-mail: ec-tbt@ec.europa.eu 
The text is available on the EC-TBT website: 
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/tbt/