Commission Decision

of 19 February 2003

amending Decision 1999/815/EC concerning measures prohibiting the placing on the market of toys and childcare articles intended to be placed in the mouth by children under three years of age made of soft PVC containing certain phthalates

(notified under document number C(2003) 557)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/113/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on general product safety(1), and in particular Article 11(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The Commission adopted, on 7 December 1999, Decision 1999/815/EC(2), as last amended by Decision 2002/910/EC(3), based on Article 9 of Directive 92/59/EEC, requiring the Member States to prohibit the placing on the market of toys and childcare articles intended to be placed in the mouth by children under three years of age, made of soft PVC containing one or more of the substances di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP).

(2) The validity of Decision 1999/815/EC was limited to three months, in accordance with the provision of Article 11(2) of Directive 92/59/EEC. Therefore, the validity of the Decision was to expire on 8 March 2000.

(3) When adopting Decision 1999/815/EC it was foreseen to prolong its validity if necessary. The validity of the measures adopted under Decision 1999/815/EC was prolonged under several Decisions for an additional period of three months each time, and is now to expire on 20 February 2003.

(4) Some relevant developments have taken place concerning the validation of phthalates migration test methods and the comprehensive risk assessment of these phthalates under Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances(4). However, further work in this area is still necessary to try to solve some crucial outstanding difficulties.

(5) Pending resolution of the outstanding issues, and in order to guarantee the objectives of Decision 1999/815/EC and its prolongations, it is necessary to maintain the prohibition of the placing on the market of the products considered.

(6) Certain Member States have implemented Decision 1999/815/EC by measures applicable until 20 February 2003. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the validity of these measures is prolonged.

(7) It is therefore necessary to prolong the validity of Decision 1999/815/EC in order to ensure that all the Member States maintain the prohibition provided for by that Decision.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Emergencies Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 5 of Decision 1999/815/EC the words "20 February 2003" are replaced by the words "20 May 2003".

Article 2

Member States shall take the measures necessary to comply with this Decision within less than 10 days of its notification. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 19 February 2003.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992, p. 24.

(2) OJ L 315, 9.12.1999, p. 46.

(3) OJ L 315, 18.11.2002, p. 21.

(4) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993, p. 1.