. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/NOR/6 
29 July 2005 
 (05-3433) 
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:   NORWAY
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):    
2. Agency responsible:         
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:    
Statens forurensningstilsyn (State Pollution Control Authority) 
Postboks 8100 Dep 0032 Oslo Norway 
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):   The proposed regulation 
is, for reasons mentioned in point 7, of a ge neral nature covering all chemical products as 
well as other products that consist of or c ontain deca-BDE in concentrations higher that 
0,1% by mass. 
5. Title, number of pages and langu age(s) of the notified document:   Draft regulation 
relating to changes in regulation relating to rest rictions on the use of chemicals dangerous to 
health and environment and other products  (1 page , in English;  text is enclosed).      
6. Description of content:   Decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) may not be placed on the 
market or used as a substance or as a constituent of substances or of preparations containing 
more than 0,1% by mass. Products may not be placed on the market if they, or flame 
retardant parts thereof, contain this substan ce in concentration higher than 0,1% by mass.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Decabromodiphenyl ether is a chemical substa nce of high concern due to its hazardous 
properties to human health and the environment.  Deca-BDE has recently been found in 
birds (glaucous gull) and polar bears in Arctic  areas.  This documents its potential for long-
range transport since there are no local sources of deca-BDE in these areas.  Furthermore, the substance may be transformed in the e nvironment to penta-BDE and octa-BDE, two 
very hazardous substances.  There are also concerns relating to neurotoxic effects. 
Restrictions of the use of the substance ar e needed to reduce or avoid risks to the 
environment and to human health.  Furthermor e, it is a follow-up of the Norwegian action 
plan to reduce emissions from brominated fl ame retardants which was adopted by the 
Storting - Norway's target is to reduce emissi ons of these substances s ubstantially by 2010, 
cf. The Government's Environmental Policy an d The State of the Environment – Report to G/TBT/N/NOR/6 
Page 2  
 
 the Storting (2002-2003).  The Scientific Co mmittee on Health and Environmental Risks 
(SCHER) adopted an opinion concerning deca-BDE 18 March 2005. SCHER states that emissions of deca-BDE to the environment may constitute  serious problems in the future.  
8. Relevant documents :   
Draft regulation.   
The Norwegian action plan for the reduction of emissions of brominated flame retardants, 
available at: http://www.sft.nyheter/dokumenter/bromina tedflameretardansactionplan2003.htm 
SCHER Opinion on deca-BDE adopted by SHER 18 March 2005 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    Autumn 2005 
1 July 2006 
10. Final date for comments:   1 August 2005 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [    ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:  
Statens forurensningstilsyn (State Pollution Control Authority) 
Postboks 8100 Dep, 0032  
Oslo Norway  
Phone:   (+47)22573400   
Fax:   (+47)22676706 
E-mail:   postmottak@sft.no  
Internet: www.sft.no