. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/EEC/126 
20 October 2006 
 (06-5084) 
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) 2 299 80 43 E-mail: ec-tbt@cec.eu.int  
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):   Cosmetics (hair dye 
products) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   List of hair dye 
substances proposed for a ban by Commission Directive amending Council Directive 
76/768/EEC (Cosmetics Directive). 
6. Description of content:   In 2001, a scientific study by M. Gago-Dominguez on the “Use 
of permanent hair dyes and bladder cancer risk” was published. In its opinion of 
12 June 2001 on the “Use of Permanent Hair Dy es and Bladder Cancer Risk”, the Scientific 
Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non- Food Products intended for Consumers 
(SCCNFP) evaluated the Gago-Dominguez-study a nd concluded that the potential risks are 
of concern (SCCNFP/0484/01).  It recommended that the Commission takes further steps to control the use of hair dye chemicals since the potential risk of using this category of 
substances give cause for concern.
 
Following the opinions of the SCCNFP, the Co mmission together with Member States and 
stakeholders agreed on an overall strategy to  regulate hair dyes within Council Directive 
76/768/EEC.  According to this strategy, the industry was required to submit safety files on 
hair dyes for evaluation by the SCCNFP accord ing to the most recent requirements.  
Substances used in hair dye products for whic h no files were submitted for an appropriate 
risk assessment by the SCCP before the cut-o ff date of 30 September 2003 (as agreed in the 
above mentioned strategy) will be  considered for a ban, on the highest priority basis. 
 G/TBT/N/EEC/126 
Page 2  
 
  In the absence of updated safety files for a ri sk assessment by the SCCP, there is no 
evidence that the listed hair dye substances can  be considered safe for human health when 
used in cosmetic products.  Therefore, these substances are proposed for a ban.  
The purpose of this regulation is to strengthen the protection of health and safety of 
European consumers using hair dye products. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of human health 
8. Relevant documents:   Council Directive of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws 
of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (76/768/EEC) 
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/co smetics/html/consolidated_dir.htm. 
See also notification G/TBT/N/EEC/107 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }End of 2006 / Beginning of 2007 
10. Final date for comments:   60 days from circulation by WTO Secretariat 
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:   
European Commission 
EC-TBT Enquiry Point Fax: (+32) 2 299 80 43 
E-mail: ec-tbt@cec.eu.int