17.1.85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 16/7 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision on a supplement in respect of cadmium, to Annex IV to 
the Convention for the Protection of the Rhine Against Chemical Pollution 
COM(84) 673 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 6 December 1984) 
(85/C 16/08) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 235 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas, by Council Decision 77/586/EEC (x), the 
Community concluded the Convention for the 
Protection of the Rhine Against Chemical Pollution, 
hereinafter referred to as 'The Convention', and the 
Additional Agreement to the Agreement signed in 
Berne on 29 April 1963 concerning the International 
Commission for the Protection of the Rhine Against 
Pollution, hereinafter referred to as the 'International 
Commission'; 
Whereas, under Article 5 of the Chemical 
Convention, the International Commission proposes 
limit values for the discharge of certain substances 
into the surface waters of the Rhine basin by way of 
amendments to Annex FV to the Convention; 
whereas, under Article 14 of the Convention, 
unanimous acceptance by the contracting parties to 
the Convention is necessary for the entry into force 
of these amendments; Whereas the International Commission has 
established limit values for cadmium in the form of a 
proposal designed to supplement Annex IV to the 
Convention; 
Whereas Directive 83/513/EEC lays down limit 
values for the discharge of cadmium into the aquatic 
environment of the Community (2); whereas these 
limit values are identical to those set out in the 
proposal of the International Commission; • 
Whereas it is desirable that the Community, as a 
contracting party to the Convention, adopt the 
abovementioned proposal, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
The proposal from the International Commission for 
the Protection of the Rhine Against Chemical 
Pollution, intended to supplement in respect of 
cadmium Annex IV to the Convention for the 
Protection of the Rhine Against Chemical Pollution, 
is hereby adopted on behalf of the European 
Economic Community. 
The text of the proposal is attached. 
Article 2 
The President of the Council will notify the 
Government of the Swiss Confederation, in 
accordance with the procedures laid down by the 
Chemical Convention, of the adoption of the 
proposal referred to in Article 1. 
0) OJ No L 240, 19. 9. 1977, p. 35. O OJ No L 291, 24. 10. 1983, p. 1. 
No C 16/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 1. 85 
ANNEX 
Proposal from the International Commission for the protection of the Rhine against pollution to 
supplement Annex IV to the Convention on the protection of the Rhine against chemical pollution, 
signed in Bonn on 3 December 1976 
The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine Against Pollution, 
Having regard to the Convention on the Protection of the Rhine Against Chemical Pollution, 
signed in Bonn on 3 December 1976, 
Having regard in particular to Articles 3, 4, 5 and 14 thereof, 
Proposes to the Contracting Parties to the Convention that Annex IV to the Convention of 
3 December 1976 be supplemented as follows in respect of cadmium: 
Substance or 
group of 
substances 
1 
Cadmium -
2 
1. Zinc mining, lead and 
zinc refining, cad­
mium metal and non-
ferrous metal industry 
2. Manufacture of cad­
mium compounds 
3. Manufacture of pig­
ments 
4. Manufacture of stabi­
lizers Limit value in terms of the 
maximum concentration of a 
substance 
3 
Monthly average of 0,2 
milligrams of cadmium 
per litre of discharge 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,3 milligrams 
of cadmium per litre of 
discharge is valid as a 
monthly average 
Monthly average of 0,2 
milligrams of cadmium 
per litre of discharge 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,5 milligrams 
of cadmium per litre of 
discharge is valid as a 
monthly average 
Monthly average of 0,2 
milligrams of cadmium 
per litre of discharge 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,5 milligrams 
of cadmium per litre of 
discharge is valid as a 
monthly average 
Monthly average of 0,2 
milligrams of cadmium 
per litre of discharge 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,5 milligrams 
of cadmium per litre of 
discharge is valid as a 
monthly average Limit value in terms of the 
maximum quantity of a 
substance 
4 
O 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,5 kilograms 
of cadmium per tonne of 
cadmium used in pro­
duction is valid as a 
monthly average 
o 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,3 kilograms 
of cadmium per tonne of 
cadmium used in pro­
duction is valid as a 
monthly average 
(5) 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,5 kilograms 
of cadmium per tonne of 
cadmium used in pro­
duction is valid as a 
monthly average Time limit for 
existing 
discharges 
5 
1. 1. 1989 
1. 1. 1986 
1. 1. 1989 
1. 1. 1986 
1. 1. 1989 
1. 1. 1986 
1. 1, 1989 
1. 1. 1986 Remarks 
6 
C), (2), O, 
0) 
O, (2). (3) 
O, (2), o 
C), O, C) 
17. 1. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 16/9 
Substance or 
group of 
substances 
1 
Cadmium 
(continued) -
2 
5. Manufacture of pri­
mary and secondary 
batteries 
6. Electroplating 
7. Manufacture of phos­
phoric acid and/or 
phosphatic fertilizer 
from phosphatic rock Limit value in terms of the 
maximum concentration of a 
substance 
3 
Monthly average of 0,2 
milligrams of cadmium 
per litre of discharge 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,5 milligrams 
of cadmium per litre of 
discharge is valid as a 
monthly average 
Monthly average of 0,2 
milligrams of cadmium 
per litre of discharge 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,5 milligrams 
of cadmium per litre of 
discharge is valid as a 
monthly average Limit value in terms of the 
maximum quantity of a 
substance 
4 
(5) 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 1,5 kilograms 
of cadmium per tonne of 
cadmium used in pro­
duction is valid as a 
monthly average 
(5) 
For existing discharges 
the provisional limit 
value of 0,3 kilograms 
of cadmium per tonne of 
cadmium used in pro­
duction is valid as a 
monthly average Time limit for 
existing 
discharges 
5 
1. 1. 1989 
1. 1. 1986 
1. 1. 1989 
1. 1. 1986 Remarks 
6 
(')> O, O 
(l)> O, (3)> 
C) 
O, (2), C)> 
o 
If necessary, the limit values for other industries will be proposed by the International Commission at a later stage. In the 
meantime, the Governments will fix emission standards for cadmium discharges autonomously in accordance with Articles 3 
and 4 of the Convention. These standards must take account of the best technical means available and must not be less stringent 
than the nearest comparable limit value in the above table. 
Pursuant to Articles 14 and 19 of the Convention, the measures set out in the above table will enter into force after their 
unanimous acceptance by the Contracting Parties to the Convention. 
The Contracting Parties will notify their acceptance to the Government of the Swiss Confederation, which will acknowledge 
reception of notification. 
(') The limit values given in the above columns refer to the determination of the cadmium contained in an unfiltered sample. They apply to the 
total cadmium content of all the waste arising from production processes at the site of the production installation. 
If the waste water containing cadmium is treated outside the installation in an establishment designed to eliminate the cadmium, Governments 
may allow the limit values to be applied at the point of discharge at the exit of that establishment. 
(2) The daily limit values are obtained by multiplying the monthly limits in the above columns by two. 
For measuring, analysis and sampling methods, see the recommendantions made by the International Commission on 20 June 1983 in 
Luxembourg. 
(') In the case of industrial sectors where limit values are expressed in terms of both maximum concentration and maximum quantity of cadmium, 
both should be applied. However, the competent authorities may authorize emission standards which exceed the applicable limit value 
expressed in terms of maximum concentration where the following two conditions are met: 
(a) the volume of waste water discharged is greatly reduced by special water-saving measures; and 
(b) the limit value expressed in terms of the maximum quantity of cadmium is respected. 
(4) In the case of industrial sector 1, for which there are only limit values expressed in terms of maximum concentration, Governments should — 
in an attempt to establish future limit values expressed in terms of maximum quantity, to fix those limit values and to bring them into force on 
1 January 1989 — provide the international Commission, at least every two years, with the relevant figures for the average monthly quantities 
of per tonne of cadmium produced of cadmium effectively discharged by the various branches in industrial sector 1. 
(s) For the time being, it is impossible to fix limit values expressed in terms of maximum quantity. The International Commission will propose such 
values, where necessary, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention. If the International Commission does not propose limit values, then 
the values expressed in terms of maximum quantity (which are to be respected as from 1 January 1986) will be retained. 
No C 16/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 1. 85 
(6) When this is made absolutely necessary by the technical or administrative situation, governments may suspend up to 1 January 1989 application 
of the limit values for installations not discharging more than 10 kilograms of cadmium per year where the total volume of all the electroplating 
tanks is not more than 1,5 m3. 
(') The cadmium content of discharges from industrial sector 7 may be reduced appreciably when the waste containing the cadmium is eliminated. 
This waste must be eliminated from the discharge where underground storage or recycling is possible in such a way that the danger to the 
environment is not increased. However, local conditions are such that elimination of this kind is not yet possible everywhere. Consequently, 
economically acceptable techniques, which allow the cadmium to be extracted systematically from these discharges, are not applicable in these 
cases. No limit value has therefore been fixed for industrial sector 7. In view or the large quantities of cadmium discharged by industrial sec­
tor 7, the International Commission will draw up proposed limit values for that sector as soon as appropriate methods are available. In the 
meantime, Governments will set emission standards for cadmium autonomously in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention, taking 
account of any possibilities of eliminating the waste containing the cadmium. For new discharges the cadmium must be eliminated from the 
waste water.