. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/SWE/51 
6 July 2005 
 (05-2977) 
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:   SWEDEN
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Sustainable Development 
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: 
Kommerskollegium (National Board of Trade) 
Box 6803, S-113 86 STOCKHOLM 
Telephone: (+46) 8 690 48 00 
Fax:  (+46) 8 690 48 40 
E-mail:  registrator@kommers.se 
Website:  www.kommers.se 
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):   PFOS and substances 
that could degrade to PFOS (perflourooctyl sulphonic derivative) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposal for an 
ordinance concerning amendment of the ordina nce on Prohibition etc. in Certain Cases in 
Connection with Handling, Importation and Exportation of Chemical Products (1998:944) 
(11 pages, in Swedish) 
6. Description of content:   The proposal entails that PFOS and substances that could degrade 
to PFOS (perflourooctyl sulphonic derivative) may not be placed on the Swedish market or 
used professionally, with the exception of hydraulic  oils used in aircraft.  The date for entry 
into force varies between the different fields  of application from 1 January 2007 to 1 
January 2010.  The Swedish Chemicals Inspectorat e is authorised to issue regulations on the 
substances to be comprised by the ban and issu e regulations on further exemption or grant 
exemption in the individual case. G/TBT/N/SWE/51 
Page 2  
 
 7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
The Government Bill (2000/01:65), passed by the Swedish Parliament (200/01:MJU15, 
rskr. 2000/01:269), presents a chemical stra tegy to reach the environmental quality 
objective A non-toxic environment.  It is stated  in the bill that by 2010, newly manufactured 
finished products will as far as possible be free from organic substances that are very 
persistent and very bioaccumulative.  PFOS fulf ils the criteria for being persistent, very bio 
accumulative and toxic and also meets the crite ria for the definition of a POP substances 
according to the Stockholm Convention.  Once a substance with the properties of a PFOS 
has reached the environment, it will persist and be a threat to living organisms for a very 
long time.  Sweden is of the opinion that due to the harmful properties of PFOS, action is 
warranted to restrict its uses. 
8. Relevant documents:         
9. Proposed date of adoption:  
Proposed date of entry into force:    6 October 2005 
1 January 2007 
10. Final date for comments:   5 October 2005 
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: