. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/223 
6 November 2006 
 (06-5338) 
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:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA) (229) 
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:    
 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [    ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   3.2 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Consumer products 
(HS Chapter 3402) (ICS 71) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   California Air 
Resources Board Notice of Public Hearing to  Consider Adoption of Proposed Amendments 
to the California Consumer Products Regulations (3 pages in English)  
6. Description of content:   The proposed regulatory action would amend the existing 
Consumer Products Regulation by adding and modifying product category definitions and 
by establishing new VOC limits for 16 product categories. For some of the categories, 
separate VOC limits are specified for different product forms. Most of the new or modified 
VOC limits would become ef fective on 31 December 2008. The remainder would become 
effective on 31 December 2010. 
 
In addition, various other m odifications and clarifications are proposed to the existing 
regulatory language.  These include amending sev eral definitions, amending the VOC limit 
of “Nail Polish Remover,” and re–evaluating the VOC limit, effective date, and category 
definition for “Electronic Cleaner.” A numbe r of minor changes are also proposed to 
various regulatory provisions in order to correct errors or improve clarity.  In addition, an 
amendment is proposed to section 94523 (Exempti ons) of the Aerosol Coatings Regulation. 
This amendment would clarify that several product categories are exempt from regulation under the Aerosol Coatings Regulation. 
The proposed regulatory action would also prohib it the use of three toxic air contaminants 
— methylenechloride, perchloroethylene, a nd trichloroethylene —in the regulations on 
“Bathroom and Tile Cleaner,” “Construction,  Panel, and Floor Covering Adhesive,” 
“General Purpose Clean er,” and “Oven Cleaner.” In a ddition to the proposed actions 
described above, the Board may consider whet her to exempt tertiary–Butylacetate (tBac) 
from the definition of “Volatile Organic Com pound.” The Board may also consider whether 
an exemption for this compound should be accompanied by provisions limiting or 
prohibiting its use in consumer products.  G/TBT/N/USA/223 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of human health and the environment 
8. Relevant documents:   California Consumer Products Regulatory Work Group Activity: 
http://www.arb.ca.gov/consprod/ regact/cpwg200 6/cpwg2006.htm 
 
9.  
Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   
To be determined 
31 December 2008 
 
10. Final date for comments:   15 November 2006 
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:   
Internet URLs:     
 California Air Resources Board Rulemaking: 
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/cpwg2006/cpwg2006.htm 
 California Regulatory Notice Register (CRNR): Register 2006, No. 39–Z , 29 September, 2006 (pages 1432-1434) http://www.oal.ca.gov/notice/39z-2006.pdf