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COM(79)84
Vol.1979/0027

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i
COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
supplementing theAnnextoCouncilDirective
76/769/EEContheapproximation ofthelaws,
regulations andadministrative provisionsofthe
MemberStatesrelatingtorestrictions onthemar­
ketinganduseofcertaindangeroussubstances and
(submittedtotheCouncilbytheCommission )\
COM(79)84final
Brussels,2March1979
A>V
w
\^>'b
Proposalfora
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
preparations
C0MC79)84final

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EXPLAMATORY MET-IORANDt !M
T.GENERAL
1.There arevery many dangerous substances andpr-parat joriswhich aretoxic -,
harmful tohealth ,corrosive ,irritating ,explosive oreasily flammable and
which cancause harm tomanortheenvironment .Inorder toprotect the
public andinparticular those persons whousedangerous substances and
preparations from thehazards arising therefrom ,theCouncil ,acting ona
proposal from theCommission ,hasalready adopted severril Directives onthe
classification ,packaging aridlabelling ofdangerous substances and
preparations .However ,ithasbeen found that ,inthecase ofcertain
dangerous substances andpreparations ,itisnotsufficient merely to
regulate their classification ,packaging andlabelling .Hence ,on27July
1976 ,theCouncil adopted aDirective concerning restrictions onthe
marketing anduseofcertain dangerous substances andpreparations"' ".
2.Lamps ,ashtrays andother objects serving decorative purposes andcontaining
liquids which aretoxic orharmful tohealth (carbon tetrachloride ,tri­
chloroethylene ortetrachloroethylene )have been latply putonthemarket
inthe Meinber States .
Where these objects have been broken ortampered with ,theliquid hasescaped
andevolved dangerous fumes which have ledtounconsciousness ,tosevere damage
tohealth andeven tothedeath ofoneyouth .They areeasily overturned by
young children and if,asaresult ,theglass envelope isshattered ,these
children are the first victims ofthe fumes which are toxic orharmful to
health .
OneMember State has therefore placed aprohibition ontheimportation ,manu­
facture andmarVfeting ofsuch fancy lamps ,ashtrays andother ornamental
objects containing theliquids mentioned andhasrequested theCommission to
pursue acomparable course ofaction atCommunity level onthebasis of
Council Directive 76/769/EECof27July 1976 .On11November 1978 asecond
Member State likewise prohibited these objects .
CXJNoL262of27September 1976 ,p.201 .

-3-
3.Theprohibition ofthese products through unilateral anddivergent
measures maygive rise toadistortion oftheCommunity market and
have adirect effect onitsfunctioning .Acommunity solution
onharmonisation ofnational provisions istherefore essential ,the
more soasdangerous substances andpreparations involved inthis case
have already caused serious /even fatal ,accidents .
Inorder toobviate further accidents andespecially fatalities ,
itisurgently desirable tointroduce such aprohibition atCom­
munity level asquickly aspossible .This should prevent these
objects from being sold intheMember States where noprohibitions
yetexist ,orwill beshortly enacted andthen cause further acci­
dents there .
II.NOTES ONTHE ARTICLES
Article 1
This extends thescope oftheAnnex totheDirective .Asaresult ,
carbon tetrachloride ,tri-andtetrachloroethylene infancy lamps ,
ashtrays andother ornamental objects areprohibited .
Articles 2and 3
These Articles are common toall Directives .
III .CONSULTATION WITH THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE
Theopinions ofthese twobodies arerequired inpursuance ofArticle
100(2 )oftheEECTreaty .Inorder toavoid further fatal ofharmful
accidents itisnecessary toengage anaccelerated procedure .

PROPOSAL FOR ACOUNCIL DIRECTIVE
supplementing theAnnex toCouncil Directive 76/769/EEC ,.ontheapproximation
ofthelaws ,regulations andadministrative provisions oftheMember States
relating torestrictions onthemarketing anduseofcertain dangerous sub­
stances andpreparations
THECOUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic Community ,and
inparticular Article 100thereof ,
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ,
Having regard totheopinion oftheEuropean Parliament ,
Having regard totheopinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ,
Whereas certain types oflanps ,ashtrays andother ornamental objects contain ,
inglass cylinders ,liquids (carbon tetrachloride ,trichloroethylene ortetra­
chloroethylene )which aretoxic orharmful tohealth ;
Whereas sane ofthese lamps andashtrays arenotvery stable andareeasily
overturned ,especially byyoung children ,with theresult that theglass
cylinder isoften shattered ,theliquid escapes andfumes arise which aretoxic
andharmful tohealth andinflict injury primarily on children ;whereas
thedeath ofoneyoung person hasoccurred ;
Whereas ,inorder toobviate further accidents ,andespecially fatalities , itis
urgently desirable tointroduce asquickly aspossible atCommunity level a
prohibition onthemarketing anduseofsuch objects ;
Whereas prohibitions already adopted byindividual Member States affect the
functioning ofthecommon market ;whereas itistherefore necessary to
harmonize therelevant legal provisions oftheMember States and inconsequence
toamend Directive 76/769/EEc\
0JNoL262,27.9.1976 ,p.201

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
Article 1
Thefollowing addition ismade totheAnnex toDirective 76/769/EEC :
Article 2
1.Member States shall bring into force theprovisions necessary tocomply
with this Directive by1January 1980 atthelatest .
2.Once notification ofthis Directive hasbeen effected ,theMember States
shall ,insufficient time toenable ittosubmit itscomments ,inform the
Commission ofalldraft laws ,regulations oradministrative provisions
which they intend toadopt inthefield covered bythis Directive ."3.-Trichloroethylene
-Tetrachloroethylene
-Carbon tetrachlorideUseprohibited inlamps ,
ashtrays and allother ornamental
objects ."
Article 3
This Directive isaddressed tothe Mentoer States .